Abnormal Origin of the Pulmonary Artery from the Ascending Aorta in the Neonate.

The anomalous origin of one pulmonary artery from the ascending aorta is a rare congenital heart disease, generally diagnosed based on the clinical information and on echocardiographic and computed tomography angiography findings. Here we report two neonates successfully treated with surgery early in life.

Fontan operation: a technique in evolution.

Objectives: Recent experimental flow studies based on angiography and magnetic resonance have shown that total cavopulmonary anastomosis (TCPA) is a valid concept for surgical treatment of many congenital heart defects, but there is not agreement of the best surgical arrangement. Our purpose is to analyze the immediate results with three different techniques of TCPA.

Methods: We sought to analyze retrospectively all TCPA realized from January 2005 to July 2008; there were 40 patients, all with previous Glenn anastomosis, with mean age of 6.

Surgical strategy in transposition of the great arteries with aortic arch obstruction.

Objective: To analyze our experience in the surgical correction of transposition of the great arteries associated with aortic arch obstruction.

Method: From January 1998 to December 2005 we performed 223 arterial switch operations for transposition of the great arteries; 21 (9.4%) patients had associated aortic arch obstruction.

[Surgical strategy for transposition of the great arteries with intact ventricular septum after the neonatal period].

Objective: To assess the surgical results in patients with transposition of the great arteries and intact ventricular septum undergoing surgery after the neonatal period.

Methods: From January 1998 to March 2004, 121 children with transposition of the great arteries with intact ventricular septum were treated, 29 (24%) of whom after the neonatal period. Selection for surgical treatment was based on echocardiographic assessment by use of the calculation of left ventricular mass and configuration of the ventricular septum.

Long-term results with the Biocor-SJM stentless porcine aortic bioprosthesis.

Background And Aim Of The Study: The study aim was to update the clinical analysis of hemodynamic performance, structural failure and survival in patients undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR) with a composite aortic, aldehyde tanned, stentless porcine bioprosthesis.

Methods: Between January 1990 and March 2001, 247 patients underwent AVR with aortic stentless valves. Patient demographic and clinical analysis included age, sex, valve lesion, valve size, pre- and postoperative NYHA class, hospital morbidity, mortality, operative data and duration of hospitalization.