A 63-Year-Old Male with D-Transposition of the Great Arteries Who Had an Early Form of the Arterial Switch Operation

We describe a 63-year-old male who appears to have undergone an early form of the arterial switch operation for D-transposition of the great arteries performed in the mid-1960s.We review the clinical and imaging data that support our conclusion.He had a diagnostic cardiac catheterization which demonstrated severe pulmonary hypertension responsive to epoprostenol and oxygen.Our case may represent one example of the experimental surgical work done prior to Dr.Adibe Jatene’s description of thefirst successful arterial switch performed in 1975.

A Rare Case of Late LAD Reimplantation after Arterial Switch Operation

Arterial switch operation(ASO)is a complex neonatal operation in which transfer of the coronary arteries origins is the key to success.Coronary events after a successful ASO are not uncommon.We describe a rare case of a child who underwent an ASO in the neonatal period with one coronary(LAD)described as atretic left in place.At age seven,he developed myocardial ischemia due to retrograde flow with a steal phenomenon from the LAD into the pulmonary artery.The patient underwent a late LAD reimplantation.This case underscores that even very small ostia should be translocated at the time of ASO.

3.0T MR Coronary Angiography after Arterial Switch Operation for Transposition of The Great Arteries-Gd-FLASH Versus Non-Enhanced SSFP.A Feasibility Study

Background:Patency of the coronary arteries is an issue after reports of sudden cardiac death in patients with transposition of the great arteries(TGA)operated with arterial switch(ASO).Recent studies give rise to concern regarding the use of ionising radiation in congenital heart disease,and assessment of the coronary arteries with coronary MR angiography(CMRA)might be an attractive non-invasive,non-ionising imaging alternative in these patients.Theoretically,the use of 3.0T CMRA should improve the visualisation of the coronary arteries.The objective of this study was to assess feasibility of 3.0T CMRA at the coronary artery origins by comparing image quality with non-contrast CMRA in ASO TGA patients to healthy age-matched controls,and by comparing image quality with non-contrast CMRA to contrast enhanced CMRA in the patient group.Material and methods:Twelve patients,9-15 years(mean 11.9 years,standard deviation 1.5 years),and 12 age-matched controls(mean 12.7 years,standard deviation 1.7 years)were examined with 3D balanced steady-state free precession(SSFP).Nine of twelve patients had Gadolinium-enhanced fast low-angle shot(Gd-FLASH)performed after SSFP.Image quality at the coronary artery origins was evaluated subjectively with a 10 cm figurative visual analogue scale(fVAS)and objectively by signal-to-noise and contrast-to-noise ratio(SNR,CNR).Results:All,but one,coronary artery origins were identified.No significant difference in image quality scores was found between patients and controls with SSFP(mean values 6.5 cm—9.1 cm in patients and 7.0 cm—8.0 cm in controls,p-values>0.1).With SSFP,intra-observer fVAS mean score was 6.7 cm—8.6 cm and with Gd-FLASH 7.7 cm—8.7 cm.CNR was higher with Gd-FLASH(p<0.03).Intra-observer agreement index(AI)with SSFP was moderate-to-good(0.43–0.71)and with Gd-FLASH good(0.64–0.79)in all origins.Inter-observer AI was good in the left main stem(LMS)with SSFP(0.65).With Gd-FLASH inter-observer AI was good in LMS(0.78)and moderate(0.5)in the left anterior descending artery,but lacking in the other origins though with a good agreement on Bland-Altman plots.Conclusions:Our findings indicate a better,more reproducible image quality with Gd-FLASH than with non-contrast SSFP CMRA on 3.0T for evaluation of the coronary artery origins in ASO TGA children and adolescents.

Coronary Artery Anomalies in D-Transposition of the Great Artery Following Arterial Switch Operation

Background:The survival rate of patients following arterial switch operation(ASO)exceeds 95%,but coronary artery anomalies(CAA)contribute to a 2%incidence of sudden cardiac arrest later in life.Therefore,we aimed to assess abnormal findings of coronary arteries in post-ASO patients.Methods:Coronary computed tomography angiography(CCTA)is performed on post-ASO patients who meet institutional criteria.Intraoperative findings of coronary artery patterns were retrospectively reviewed and categorized using the Leiden classification system.Coronary artery anomalies were detected by CCTA and associations with coronary artery compromise were explored.Results:Forty-three patients who had CCTA with a median age of 15.6 years(12–21.3 years)were included in the study.Unusual coronary patterns were identified in 20(46%)patients before ASO.CCTA identified 25 CAA in 22 patients(eleven with prepulmonic course,nine with interarterial course,three with acute take-off angle,and two with significant stenosis).Postoperative CAA was more common in patients with unusual coronary patterns(90%vs.17.4%;p<0.001).Nine patients experienced chest pain and two patients required coronary artery bypass graft.A common ostium of RCA and LAD or LMCA were associated with significant chest pain(OR 14.3%,95%CI 2.5 to 82.3).Conclusions:Coronary artery anomalies in post-ASO are common.All post-ASO patients should have coronary artery imaging before participating in competitive sport and when they reach adolescence.Patients with unusual preoperative coronary artery patterns should undergo coronary artery imaging when feasible.Follow-up imaging studies are indicated in patients with post-operative coronary artery abnormalities.

Investigation of the risk factors associated with early mortality of the rapid two-stage arterial switch operation

Objective To investigate the risk factors associated with early mortality of the rapid two-stage arerial switch operation,which has a significantly higher overall mortality than that of ASO procedure for D-TGA with an intact ventricular septum. Methods The data we reviewed involving patients who underwent rapid two-stage switch operations from September,2002 to September,2007 in our center,13 patients were male and 8

Comparative analysis of early and middle outcomes of the arterial switch operation in children with complete transposition of the great arteries with ventricular septal defect and severe pulmonary artery hypertension

Background The best age for the arterial switch operation （ASO） in complete transposition of great arteries with ventricular septal defect is usually considered to be within six months. This is because of severe pulmonary arterial hypertension and pulmonary arterial obstructive pathological changes. There are few reports on ASO surgery in children older than three years old. Methods We studied 41 children, including 24 males and 17 females, from January 2010 to December 2011. They were divided into three groups by operation age; 15 patients were 〈1 year old, 13 were 1-3 years old, and 13 were 〉3 years old. Associated cardiac abnormalities included patent ductus arteriosus in six cases, atrial septal defect in five cases, and mitral regurgitation in two cases. All the patients had echocardiography before the operation. Seventeen patients underwent a coronary computed tomography examination and five patients underwent right heart catheterization. All ASO surgeries were performed under inhalation anesthesia and hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass. Results Three operative deaths occurred. Two were in the 〈1 year old group, who died from severe postoperative low cardiac output. The other was two years old and died of postoperative multiple organ failure. There was no significant difference in postoperative mortality and the recent mid-term survival rate among the three groups. Thirty-eight cases were followed up for an average of 11.2 months, ranging 6-20 months. One seven years old patient died of acute diarrhea and electrolyte disturbance arrhythmia caused by food poisoning. Three patients more than three years old still had residual pulmonary arterial hypertension. Conclusion Children older than three years old can still undergo the ASO procedure, but residual pulmonary hypertension is present.

Reconstruction of a new pulmonary artery in arterial switch operation

Background:This study was undertaken to evaluate the new method for the reconstruction of the pulmonary artery in arterial switch operation(ASO).Methods:A total of 108 consecutive infants with congenital heart disease were treated with ASO in our department between January 2004 and June 2012.The new pulmonary arterial root was reconstructed with a fresh autologuos pericardium which was clipped pants­like with continuous mattress suture of 6-0 Prolene thread.Patients were reexamined consecutively at 3 and 6 months and 1,2 and 6 years after discharge.The pulmonary arterial blood velocity was measured by continuous Doppler during systole.The pulmonary flow of healthy children of same age was also measured in the control group.Simplified Bernoulli formula was used to calculate the pressure gradient via the pulmonary artery for determining whether there was pulmonary stenosis.Results:In this series,96 infants survived after the surgery and 88 were followed up with a mean peirod of(22±4)months.No pulmonary stenosis was detected with the simplified Bernoulli formula.Conclusion:No pulmonary stenosis was detected with the simplified Bernoulli formula.