Alternative pulmonary artery reconstruction technique in the arterial switch operation

OBJECTIVES Late complications of arterial switch operations (ASO) for transposition of the great arteries, such as neo-pulmonary artery (PA) stenosis and/or neoaortic regurgitation, have been reported. We developed an alternative reconstruction method called the longitudinal extension (LE) method to prevent PA bifurcation stenosis (PABS). METHODS We identified 48 patients diagnosed with transposition of the great arteries and performed ASO using the Lecompte manoeuvre for neo-PA reconstruction. In 9 consecutive patients (from 2014), the LE method was performed (LE). Before 2014, conventional techniques were performed in 39 patients (C). The median body weight and age in the LE and C groups were 3.0 and 3.1 kg and 12 and 26 days, respectively. In the LE group, 1 patient underwent bilateral PA banding before ASO. In C, PA banding and arch repair were performed in 1 patient each. Patients who received concomitant procedures were included. RESULTS The median follow-up in LE and C groups was 1.9 and 10.1 years, respectively. Early mortality/late death was not found in group LE and in 1 patient in group C. Only 1 case required ascending aorta sliding plasty in LE, and 8 patients needed PA augmentation for PABS in C. The median velocity of right/left PA was measured as 1.6/1.9 m/s in LE and 2.1/2.3 m/s in C, so it showed a lower value in LE. CONCLUSIONS Excellent mid-term results were obtained with the LE method. It was considered a useful procedure in preventing PABS, which is a primary late complication of ASO. Further follow-up and investigations are needed.