Does a prenatal diagnosis affect mortality and morbidity for neonatal arterial switch operation

Background: The effect of prenatal diagnosis on prognosis in patients with transposition of the great arteries is not clear. In this study, we compared the outcomes after arterial switch operation. Methods: Outcome of 112 patients who had arterial switch operation in the neonatal period were analysed. The patients were divided into two groups: those who had prenatal diagnosis (Group 1; n = 34) and those who did not (Group 2; n = 78). The patients were also classified based on their diagnosis: simple transposition, transposition with ventricular septal defect and/or aortic arch hypoplasia, and Taussig–Bing anomaly. Results: In Group 1, the C-section delivery rate was higher (82% vs. 44%; p = 0.004), and it was observed that patients in Group 1 were more often intubated upon admission to the neonatal ICU (38% vs. 9%; p = 0.005). No differences were found between the two groups in terms of operation time, cardiopulmonary bypass time, post-operative invasive respiratory support duration, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support. It was observed that those who had Taussig–Bing anomaly had a higher mortality. Conclusions: Timely treatment have a positive effect on neonatal mortality and morbidity. That’s why all families with prenatal diagnosis of critical CHD should be recommended to have the delivery in a tertiary care hospital. Although it could not be demonstrated in this study, prenatal diagnosis has a potential to improve surgical results especially in countries or cities, which does not have enough resources for transfer and surgical units. Further efforts are needed to improve prenatal screening programmes.

An Unusual Coronary Artery Complication after Surgery for a Complex Congenital Heart Disease: A Case Report

Background: Unexpected events in cardiac surgery may increase morbidity and mortality, which may be more complicated and difficult to manage especially in redo complex congenital heart surgery in children. This report presents a case of unusual coronary artery complication after redo surgery for a complex congenital heart disease. Case Presentation: A female baby with ventricular septal defect, transposition of great arteries and coarctation of the aorta, underwent coarctation repair and pulmonary banding in neonatal period then at one year old, she underwent arterial switch operation and ventricular septal defect repair. In the pediatric cardiac intensive care unit, she required high doses of vasoactive inotropic drugs and echocardiography revealed sever right ventricular dysfunction without significant gradients or shunts. Accordingly, a diagnostic cardiac catheterization was performed and the aortic angiography revealed that the right coronary artery was not inadvertently transferred into the neo -aortic root during the step of arterial switch operation. The surgeon declared that he came upon confounding factors during the intraoperative assessment, which led him to identify a single coronary artery. Immediate reoperation performed to translocate the non-transferred right coronary artery into the neo aortic root and postoperatively the case required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation till she stabilized, and she was discharged in an acceptable condition. Conclusion: Early diagnosis and management of any complications related to coronary artery during pediatric cardiac surgery could lower risk and achieve favorable outcome.

Results of the arterial switch operation for Taussig-Bing variants in the setting of a lower-middle income country: a single institution experience

Background: This study was conducted to evaluate the surgical results of the arterial switch operation for Taussig-Bing variants, at a single institution in a lower-middle income country. Methods: Between June 2010 and December 2018, all consecutive patients diagnosed with Taussig-Bing variants who underwent the arterial switch operation and ventricular septal defect closure were included in the study. Results: A total of 72 patients of Taussig-Bing variants who underwent arterial switch operation and ventricular septal defect closure. There were 10 early deaths (13.9%) and 2 late deaths (2.8%). Intraoperative ventricular septal defect enlargement [hazard ratio (HR) 7.23, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.1294-16.7167; P < 0.001], secondary aortic cross clamping (HR 28.38, 95% CI 4.8427-166.3484; P < 0.001), post-operative pneumonia (HR 5.64, 95% CI 1.2724-24.9917; P = 0.023), and post-operative sepsis (HR 5.28, 95% CI 1.3512-20.6553; p = 0.017) were risk factors for overall mortality by competing risk analysis. Sixty patients (83.3%) required septoparietal trabeculation division/resection during the arterial switch operation in an attempt to avoid right ventricular outflow tract obstruction. The reoperation rate for right ventricular outflow tract obstruction at last follow up was 6% (3 patients). The estimated freedom from reoperation for right ventricular outflow tract obstruction at 1 year, 5 year and 9 year was 98.3%, 91.9% and 91.9 , respectively. Conclusions: The results of arterial switch operation for Taussig-Bing variants were satisfactory in the operative setting of a lower-middle income country, and performing extensive septoparietal trabeculation division might reduce the reintervention rate for right ventricular outflow tract obstruction in these patients.