Edward J. Hickey, Christopher A. Caldarone
Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto.
Canada
Seminars in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Annual
Semin Thorac Cardiovasc Surg Pediatr Card Surg Annu 2011; 14: 101-108
DOI: 10.1053/j.pcsu.2011.01.007
Abstract
Obstructed pulmonary venous drainage – either in association with total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage, congenital stenosis, or post-repair stenosis – is associated with poor outcome. Post-repair stenosis typically involves fibrotic scar tissue extending from the site of anastomosis. “Sutureless” repair techniques avoid direct left atrial-pulmonary vein suture lines by instead reconstituting atrial tissue to posterior pericardium. Hence, the repair leaves widely decompressed pulmonary veins in the posterior mediastinum draining directly into the left atrium as a ‘controlled bleed.’ In our experience, late outcomes are significantly more favorable with sutureless repair techniques versus conventional pulmonary vein surgery. Therefore, after these encouraging results, we have now extended the application of this repair strategy to all scenarios of pulmonary vein surgery, including primary repair of unobstructed total anomalous pulmonary venous connection. The sutureless repair is versatile and facile. In particular, complex geometry of multiple decompressed veins can be easily accommodated by wide left atrial-pericardial suture lines. Common pitfalls can be avoided by mobilizing and protecting the phrenic pedicle and preserving the integrity of the areolar connective tissue and pleuro-parietal membrane. Overall, sutureless repair of anomalous or stenotic pulmonary veins appears safe and effective. Furthermore, in patients known to be at high risk of recurrent stenosis, sutureless techniques appear to offer improved freedom from recurrent stenosis.
Category
Segmental Pulmonary Venous Disease. Without a Focus on Pulmonary Hypertension
Surgical and Catheter-mediated Interventions for Pulmonary Vascular Disease
Review Articles Concerning Pulmonary Vascular Disease
Age Focus: Pediatric Pulmonary Vascular Disease
Fresh or Filed Publication: Filed (PHiled). Greater than 1-2 years since publication
Article Access
Free PDF File or Full Text Article Available Through PubMed or DOI: No