Reimbursement by current German diagnosis-related groups system penalises complex congenital heart surgery.

A total of 458 hospital stays during the year 2011 were analysed to determine whether reimbursement by the current German Diagnosis-Related Groups system covers the costs incurred during hospital stay for congenital heart surgery. The costs of every hospital stay were estimated according to the guidelines of the Institute for the Hospital Remuneration System, an institute responsible for encoding hospital reimbursement in Germany. Cost-weight values of the year 2012 were applied for reimbursement.

Is there any need for a shunt in the treatment of tetralogy of Fallot with one source of pulmonary blood flow?

Objectives: In symptomatic patients, performing a primary repair of tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), irrespective of age or placing a shunt, remains controversial. The aim of the study was to analyse the policy of primary correction.

Methods: Between May 2005 and May 2012, a total of 87 consecutive patients with TOF, younger than 6 months of age, underwent primary correction.

Aortopulmonary window associated with interrupted aortic arch: report of surgical repair of eight cases and review of literature.

Background: Patients with combined aortopulmonary window (APW) and interrupted aortic arch (IAA) malformations are rarely seen. We reviewed cases with such association with emphasis on surgical management and long-term outcome.

Methods: 109 patients with IAA and 25 patients with APW were operated upon between 1981 and 2011.

Survival and reintervention after neonatal repair of truncus arteriosus with valved conduit.

Objective: Neonatal primary repair has progressively become the treatment of choice for truncus arteriosus with encouraging survival. However, use of valved conduits to reconstruct the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) inevitably induces reintervention. This study estimates survival and rate of catheter-interventional and surgical reinterventions.

Right ventricular outflow tract obstruction after arterial switch operation for the Taussig-Bing heart.

Objective: Incidence of right ventricular outflow tract obstruction (RVOTO) may be suspected to be higher after arterial switch operation (ASO) for Taussig-Bing heart than after ASO for transposition of the great arteries (TGA), as Taussig-Bing anomaly is frequently associated with aortic arch obstruction and subvalvular aortic stenosis. We evaluated the risk to develop RVOTO after ASO for Taussig-Bing heart.

Methods: The 34 Taussig-Bing cases who underwent ASO from 1984 to 2005 were reviewed.

Comprehensive Aristotle score: implications for the Norwood procedure.

Background: Aristotle score is emerging as a reliable tool to measure surgical performance. We estimated the comprehensive Aristotle score for the Norwood procedure, correlated it with survival, and considered its impact on surgical management of hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

Methods: Comprehensive Aristotle score was retrospectively calculated for 39 consecutive Norwood procedures performed from 2001 to 2004.

Results of arterial switch operation for primary total correction of the Taussig-Bing anomaly.

Background: This study evaluates the results of the arterial switch operation for early total repair of double-outlet right ventricle with subpulmonary ventricular septal defect (the Taussig-Bing heart).

Methods: From 1986 through April 2003, 27 patients with Taussig-Bing anomaly underwent arterial switch operation. Twenty patients were neonates (n = 11) or infants younger than 3 months (n = 9).