Primary surgical repair of tetralogy of Fallot in symptomatic neonates and premature infants / 中华胸心血管外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To review our clinical experience with primary surgical repair of tetralogy of Fallot in neonates and premature infants and to discuss the timing of repair and major factors in treating this patients perioperatively.Methods From January 2012 to September 2015,a series of 19 consecutive neonates and premature infants(M/F =12/7) with tetralogy of Fallot were admitted in our center to receive surgical treatment,with a mean age of(17.3 ± 5.5) days(12-28 days) and a mean body weight of(2.9 ±0.7) kg(2.1-4.3 kg).All the 19 cases were symptomatic with cyanosis,saturation on room air 0.79 ± 0.12 (0.48-0.92),and shortness of breath.Before operation,2 cases were receiving an infusion of prostaglandin E1,5 were mechanically ventilated.7 were more than moderate anemia with hemoglobin of 55-87 g/L.All the patients received echocardiography,ECG and chest X-ray.The McGoon ratio and Nakata index were 1.09 ± 0.30 (0.8 to 1.6) and (135.5 ± 54.2) mm2/m2 (63-212 mm2/m2) respectively.18 cases received one-stage surgical repair and 1 premature infant under two-stage operation with the VSD closure after right ventricular outflow tract(RVOT) transannular patch augmentation.All the VSDs in the 18 cases were closed with continuous suture and RVOT were enlarged with autologous pericardium patch transannularly or not.Balanced and modified ultrafiltration were applied in all the patients.Patients were strictly followed up with a standard protocol focusing on right ventricular function and arrythmia.Several characteristics(e.g.time of operating,mechanical ventilation and ICU stay,complications,hospital stay time,cost of hospitalization) were compared between this group of patients and other TOF patients during the same period in our center.Results All the one-stage operations were successful.There was no mortality and major complication.Mean CPB and aortic clamping time were(111.5 ± 31.6)min (76-153min) and (73.3 ± 11.6) min (64-89 min) respectively.10 VSDs were closed with transventricular approach,6 witht transatrial appraoch and 2 with transatrial-ventricular approach.12 cases (66.7 ％) had a transannular RVOT patch,4 (22.2 ％) with single RVOT patch and 2 (11.1％) with transannular RVOT and left pulmonary artery patch.Atrial communication were left open in 15 cases (83.3 ％).The time of mechincal ventilation and ICU stay were (123.7 ± 59.5) h (39-239 h) and (10.1 ± 3.2) days (5-19 days) respectively.All the patients were followed up for (31.8 ± 15.7) months (9-57 months).There was no mortality and major complication.ECG showed that there was no severe arrythmia except for 3 complete right branh bundle block.The latest echocardiography results showed that right heart function was normal in all the cases and RVOT grandients was less than 30mmHg except one with 35 mmHg.There were 2 cases with residual shunt less than 2 mm and 8 cases with pulmonary valvular regurgitation less than moderate degree.Compared with other TOF cases during the same period,there was no difference according to the data mentioned above except with more time of mechnical ventilation and ICU stay and more cost of hospitalization.Conclusion Primary repair of TOF can be performed safely in symptomatic neonates and premature infants,regardless of age and body weight,with favorable early and mid-term results.Excellent teamwork and accurate prenatal and postnatal diagnosis were the two major factors in yeilding good results in these patients.