Staged partitioning of single ventricle.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Cardiology
• Congenital Heart Surgery
• Cardiac Anatomy

Background:

• Common ventricle is a rare and complex congenital heart defect.
• Surgical repair of common ventricle presents significant challenges.
• Existing surgical techniques may have limitations in long-term outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a novel two-stage septation technique for common ventricle.
• To assess the short-term outcomes and feasibility of this surgical approach in young infants.

Main Methods:

• A two-stage surgical repair was performed on five patients aged 3-10 months with common ventricle.
• Stage 1 involved apical and atrioventricular/semilunar valve patching with an open central section and optional pulmonary banding.
• Stage 2, performed 6-18 months later, consisted of ventricular septal defect closure.

Main Results:

• All five patients survived the two-stage surgical repair.
• No rhythm disturbances were observed in any of the patients post-operatively.
• One patient required a right ventricle-pulmonary artery conduit due to subsequent pulmonary stenosis.

Conclusions:

• The described two-stage septation technique for common ventricle is feasible and associated with survival in infants.
• The initial stage allows for patch stiffening and healing, potentially reducing suture requirements.
• This approach offers a promising alternative for managing common ventricle with favorable short-term results.