Introduction:
The naturally poor survival of pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect (PA+VSD) has improved due to evolved perioperative and surgical treatment. Studies including PA+VSD patients, both with and without major aortopulmonary collateral arteries (MAPCAs), with extensive follow-up are scarce. This nationwide study aimed to investigate survival and surgical treatment in PA+VSD patients with and without MAPCAs.
Methods:
Study comprised 109 PA+VSD patients born in Finland between 1970 and 2007. We reviewed retrospectively medical records and operative reports through December 2011, as well as first available angiograms and preoperative angiograms prior to repair attempt.
Results:
The median follow-up time for the total study population, including also patients who died during the follow-up, was 11.4 years (IQR 0.8 - 21.1). The incidence of PA+VSD, which could be determined reliably from 1995 to 2007, was 6.1 per 100 000 live births.
Although the patients with (n = 43) or without MAPCAs (n = 66) showed no difference in survival (p = 0.74), the patients without MAPCAs had better probability to achieve repair (64% vs. 28%, p < 0.0001). The bigger size of true central pulmonary arteries assessed by McGoon index at first angiogram [HR 0.66 (CI95% 0.49 - 0.88) per 0.5 McGoon index units, p = 0.006] and achievement of repair [HR 0.07 (CI95% 0.03 - 0.17), p < 0.0001] improved the overall survival.
After successful repair survival was 93% at 1 year and 91% from 2 years on. Palliated patients, instead, had survival at 1, 5, 10, and 20 years of age of 55%, 42%, 34%, and 20% respectively. However, patients with right ventricle - pulmonary artery connection and septal fenestration had better survival than rest of the palliated patients (p = 0.001). Palliation with a systemic-pulmonary artery shunt increased McGoon index by 41% (p < 0.0001).
Conclusions:
The patients with MAPCAs had higher risk to remain palliated than patients without, although their survival was similar. Survival of PA+VSD was influenced by the initial size of true central pulmonary arteries and whether repair was achieved. Although palliative procedures may not improve the final outcome of PA+VSD, palliative surgery may have a role in its treatment.
Surgical Treatment of Pulmonary Artery Aneurysm Thirty-Eight Years after an Operation for Atrial Septal Defect
