Surgical treatment of pulmonary atresia with major aortopulmonary collateral arteries in 83 consecutive patients†

Objectives This article reports the safety and efficacy of a morphology-based algorithm for the surgical management of pulmonary atresia and ventricular septal defect with major aortopulmonary collateral arteries. Methods A total of 83 patients were operated from 2007 to 2014 using 3 surgical approaches: one-stage total repair, one-stage unifocalization with central shunt and delayed total repair and multistage unifocalization with subsequent total repair. Patients were divided into 2 groups depending on the surgical strategy used to choose the surgical approach. In Group I (2007-09), the surgeon-preferred procedure (71%-one-stage total repair) was used. In Group II (2010-14), a surgical algorithm based on pulmonary arterial tree morphology was applied. Results Median follow-up was 5.04 years and 98% complete. The overall survival rate was 92.59%. Cumulative operative mortality decreased from 10.7% in Group I to 0% in Group II ( P = 0.036). Successful complete repair was performed in 23 (82%) of 28 patients in Group I (median follow-up, 7.99 years) and in 33 (60%) of 55 patients in Group II (median follow-up, 3.85 years). The difference in total survival was not significant between Groups I and II but was markedly influenced by the presence of the 22q11 deletion. The survival of 23 patients with confirmed 22q11 deletion was 73.91%; the survival of 28 patients with confirmed absence of the 22q11 deletion was 100%; and the survival of 32 patients not tested for the 22q11 deletion was 100% ( P = 0.0001). Conclusions Total survival was significantly lower in patients with the 22q11 deletion. Surgical management based on preoperative pulmonary arterial anatomical features improves early surgical results.