Monocusp Valves Do Not Improve Early Operative Mortality in Tetralogy of Fallot: A Meta-Analysis.

Monocusp valves are thought to reduce early operative mortality and morbidity associated with pediatric tetralogy of Fallot repair. As there are no published randomized clinical trials comparing outcomes with and without a monocusp valve, we performed a meta-analysis of observational studies in accordance with established protocols. After systematically searching PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar, 12 studies were included.

Optimal Use of Z-Scores to Preserve the Pulmonary Valve Annulus During Repair of Tetralogy of Fallot.

Objective: The size of the pulmonary annulus measured as a z-score is often used to determine when to insert a transannular patch (TAP). Multiple "cutoffs" are quoted in the literature; this could lead to inappropriate insertion. We aimed to determine whether the use of z-scores derived from different populations may have contributed to the varied "cutoffs" quoted.

Optimal Z-Score Use in Surgical Decision-Making in Pulmonary Atresia With Intact Ventricular Septum.

Objectives: In the surgical treatment of pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum, the size of the tricuspid valve annulus (as measured by z-scores) has emerged as a significant factor in deciding which repair to perform. Various tricuspid valve annulus z-scores are reported as "cutoffs" for successful biventricular repair. We aimed to determine whether the use of different z-score data sets contributed to the gross variation in "cutoffs" for successful biventricular repair reported in the literature.

Tetralogy of Fallot repair: optimal z-score use for transannular patch insertion.

Objectives: Transannular patching is used to relieve significant pulmonary annular stenosis during tetralogy of Fallot repair. Although recent literature has focused on the deleterious effects of pulmonary regurgitation, inadequate relief of stenosis may increase postoperative mortality and the re-intervention rate. Patching criteria based on pulmonary annular z-scores are ambiguous because of the use of varied z-score data sets.

Optimal normative pediatric cardiac structure dimensions for clinical use.

Cardiac structure size influences surgical decision making in pediatric cardiac surgery. Lack of universally adopted normative cardiac structure dimensions may confound decision making. A review of the relevant literature contained in 2 large databases was performed with a view to determine the optimal normative cardiac structure dimensions for clinical use.