AbstractAimTo analyse the current practice and contribution of catheter interventions in the staged management of patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome.MethodsThis study is a retrospective case note review of 527 patients undergoing staged Norwood/Fontan palliation at a single centre between 1993 and 2010. Indications and type of catheter interventions were reviewed over a median follow-up period of 7.5 years.ResultsA staged Norwood/Fontan palliation for hypoplastic left heart syndrome was performed in 527 patients. The 30-day survival rate after individual stages was 76.5% at Stage I, 96.3% at Stage II, and 99.4% at Stage III. A total of 348 interventions were performed in 189 out of 527 patients. Freedom from catheter intervention in survivors was 58.2% before Stage II and 46.7% before Stage III. Kaplan–Meier freedom from intervention post Fontan completion was 55% at 10.8 years of follow-up. Post-stage I interventions were mostly directed to relieve aortic arch obstruction – 84 balloon angioplasties – and augment pulmonary blood flow – 15 right ventricle-to-pulmonary conduit interventions; post-Stage II interventions centred on augmenting size of the left pulmonary artery – 73 procedures and abolishing systemic venous collaterals – 32 procedures. After Stage III, the focus was on manipulating the size of the fenestration – 42 interventions – and the left pulmonary artery −31 procedures.ConclusionInterventional cardiac catheterisation constitutes an integral part in the staged palliative management of patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Over one-third (37%) of patients undergoing staged palliation required catheter intervention over the follow-up period.
Interstage attrition between bidirectional Glenn and Fontan palliation in children with hypoplastic left heart syndrome
