Primary vs Staged Biventricular Repair for Neonatal IAA with VSD and LVOTO

This study sought to determine the safety of primary and staged biventricular repair in neonates with interrupted aortic arch (IAA), ventricular septal defect (VSD), and severe left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO).

Patients with a fundamental diagnosis of IAA and VSD between 2015 and 2020 were extracted from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons National Database by using a Participant User File. The objective was to compare outcomes for neonates undergoing primary and staged Yasui and Ross operations. Primary end points were operative morbidity and mortality.

During the study period, 11.4% (123 of 1079) of neonates with a fundamental diagnosis of IAA and VSD underwent operations indicative of severe LVOTO. Of these patients, 42 (34%) underwent primary biventricular repair (Yasui or Ross/Ross-Konno), and 81 underwent a potential staging procedure (Norwood or hybrid stage I). No differences were observed in preoperative patient characteristics between groups. Neonates undergoing staged repair experienced fewer major complications (0 vs 1; P = .04) and total complications (2 vs 4; P = .02), but similar operative mortality (5% vs 12%; P = .27) as neonates undergoing primary repair. A total of 58 patients undergoing Rastelli, biventricular repair, Yasui, or Ross/Ross-Konno operations with a diagnosis of IAA and VSD and history of neonatal Norwood or hybrid stage I procedures were also identified. Operative mortality for second-stage biventricular conversion operations was 2% (1 of 58). Only 4 centers performed 1 or more complex biventricular repairs for IAA and VSD with LVOTO per year.

Primary and staged biventricular repairs for IAA and VSD with LVOTO are associated with low operative mortality in the modern era and may be favorable to long-term single-ventricle palliation.