Objective To summarize the experiences of surgical intervention for tetralogy of Fallot(TOF) in early infancy and to discuss the relevant issues about primary treatment procedures in the period. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical operative information of 21 patients in their early infancy (less than 6 months) with TOF treated in Children’s Hospital of Shanghai from June 2008 to August 2010. There were 14 males and 7 females with a mean age of 4.86±1.15 months and a mean body weight of 6.84±1.33 kg. All patients were diagnosed by heart color Doppler ultrasound. Four patients underwent CT or magnetic resonance imaging（MRI） or right heart catheter arteriography examination. The McGoon ratio was 1.86±0.41 and the pulmonary artery index（PAI） was 142.54±59.46 mm2/m2. The ventricular septal defect (VSD) was closed with autologous pericardium using continuous sutures through right atrium (19 cases) or right ventricle (2 cases). Transannular repair was performed when pulmonary valve annulus was one standard deviation less than the normal Z value (18 cases). If the annulus diameter approached or reached the normal Z value, the valve annulus was preserved and pericardium was used to enlarge the right ventricular outflow tract(RVOT) and the main pulmonary artery (3 cases). Results There was one death due to heart failure on the 15th day after operation, one patient had acute laryngeal edema after removal of endotracheal intubation on the second day after operation, and received reintubation and assisted ventilation for three days. All the other patients recovered well. Eighteen patients were followed up for 9.89±6.47 months. Their heart functions were in modified Ross class I or II. Echocardiography during the followup showed that RVOT pressure was 21.20±12.27 mm Hg (8.10-45.14 mm Hg); pulmonary incompetence (PI) was mild in 10 cases, moderate in 5 cases, and no severe PI occurred. Two cases of residual VSD were spontaneously closed. Compared with the early postoperative period, RVOT pressure and PI levels were not significantly different (Pgt;0.05). Right heart function was good.onclusion Early complete repair of TOF yields good surgical results. Transatrial repair of intracardiac pathology and retaining pulmonary valve annulus can be safely applied to yield good postoperative right ventricular function.
ObjectiveTo study the safety of right vertical infra-axillary thoracotomy (RVIAT) in the repair of ventricular septal defect (VSD) and the optimal age for RVIAT.MethodsBetween June 2014 and June 2018, 441 children underwent VSD repair via RVIAT in our hospital. According to the age, they were divided into four groups: a 4 months to 1 year old group (R1 group, n=123), a 1-2 years old group (R2 group, n=106), a 2-5 years old group (R3 group, n=166), a >5 years old group (R4 group, n=46). The clinical effects of the patients were compared.ResultsAll the operations were successfully performed and no serious complication was found in all groups. No statistical difference was observed in the operation time, blood loss during operation, thoracic drainage 24 h after operation among groups (P>0.05). The cardiopulmonary bypass time, aortic cross-blocking time and ICU stay time in the R1 and R2 groups were longer than those in the R3 and R4 groups (P<0.05). In the R1 group, the postoperative ventilating time and postoperative hospital stay time were longer, and the blood transfusion volume was more than those in the R3 and R4 groups (P<0.05). The incidence of postoperative complications was higher in the R4 group than that in the R1 and R3 groups (P<0.05).ConclusionVSD repair via RVIAT may be more effective in children >2 years old, and 2-5 years old may be the optimal age.