Pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum. Surgical approach based on ventricular size and coronary anatomy

Pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum has continued to have a high surgical mortality. This may relate to the nonuniformity of the anomaly. We have developed a management algorithm based on the right ventricular size and coronary anatomy. Patients with a well-developed ventricle and normal coronary arteries have undergone right ventricular outflow procedures. The adequacy of their right ventricles is subsequently evaluated; some patients are candidates for a four-chamber repair, whereas others are candidates for a Fontan procedure. Patients with severe hypoplasia of the right ventricle frequently have extensive ventriculo-coronary connections, and for these patients we have developed the technique of right ventricular obliteration. Over the past 7 years, we have treated 20 patients with pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum. Fourteen of the 20 patients underwent outflow tract procedures, with no operative mortality. There were two late deaths in this group. Six patients had hypoplasia of the ventricle with ventriculo-coronary connections and underwent right ventricular obliteration. There was one operative death and one late death in the group. Overall, 95% survived the neonatal period, and 80% were still alive at the time this article was written with an average follow-up of 32 months. We conclude that pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum can be successfully managed with the use of an algorithm based on ventricular size and coronary anatomy.