DIAGNOSIS AND SURGICAL TREATMENT OF AORTOPULMONARY SEPTAL DEFECT

Yu JG, Zhang ZW, Zhu XK, et al.

Affiliated Children's Hospital, Medical College of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China

 

Objective: To study the diagnosis and surgical treatment of aortopulmonary septal defect (APSD).

Clinic and Method: From May 1986 to June 2000,8 patients with APSD underwent operation with a mean age 2.7±1.0 year and a mean body weight 10.8±1.5KG. Cardiac catheterization in 6 patients showed a large left-to-right shunt (mean pulmonary/systemic flow ratio, 3.64±0.82) with severe pulmonary artery hypertension (mean pulmonary/systemic pressure ratio, 0.88±0.04)and increased pulmonary vascular resistance (mean value 6.86±2.08 Woods).Associated anomalies were patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in 1 and type A interrupted aortic arch (IAA) in 2. Cardiopulmonary bypass and moderate hypothermia were used in all 8 patients. The APSD was divided and oversewn in 1.In 7 patients, the defect was closed with a patch using various approaches: transaortic in 2, transpulmonary in 2 and trans-window in 3. The patch material consisted of Gore-Tex in 2 and native pericardium in 5. Associated anomalies were repaired simultaneously.

Result: Three of eight APSDs were misdiagnosed.All patients had a severe pulmonary hypertension before operation. There was a pulmonary hypertension crisis in 3, heart failure in 1 and chylothorax in 1 after operation .One patient associated with IAA died after operation due to pulmonary hypertension crisis and heart failure.

Conclusion: Correct preoperative diagnosis, satisfactory surgical treatment and active treatment of postoperative pulmonary hypertension are key to gain good outcomes.

 

 
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