Results of application of the modified “closed” method of reimplantation of coronary arteries in arterial switch operation

Introduction. Currently, the standard surgical treatment of patients with transposition of the great arteries (TGA) is an arterial switch operation in the neonatal period. Reimplantation of the coronary arteries during the operation is the key to success. Therefore, constant search for new and modification of known techniques are ongoing. The goal of our work was to present the results of arterial switch operation using a modified closed technique for reimplantation of the coronary arteries. Materials and Methods. During the period from 2011 to December, 2016, in Research Institute - Regional Clinical Hospital No. 1 n.a. Prof. S.V. Ochapovsky, 63 operations of arterial switch using modified closed technique reimplantation of the coronary arteries were performed. The average age at operation was 4.77±2.54 days; the average weight was 3.33±0.35 kg. On average, the operation was performed on the 5th day after birth. Diagnoses: Patients with simple TGA (n=49); patients with TMA and ventricular septal defect (VSD) (n=11); patients with TGS and VSD (including one patient with multiple defects) who had obstruction of the aortic arch (n=3). The study showed that the only limitation of the modified closed method for reimplantation of the coronary arteries was an intramural course of the coronary arteries. 58 patients (92%) received alprostadil infusion; 22 patients (34.9%) received balloon atrioseptostomy (Rashkind procedure). Results. The hospital mortality rate was 7.93% (5 patients). The mortality rates were 6.1% (3 patients in the 49 operations) in the group with simple TGA and 18.1% (2/11 patients) in patients with VSD. No fatal outcomes occurred among patients with an anomaly of the aortic arc. The causes of mortality were the multiple organ failure (2 patients) and sepsis in the presence of necrotizing enterocolitis (3 patients). Discussion. Arterial switch operation at the present stage of pediatric cardiac surgery development is the operation of choice for patients with the transposition of the great vessels with feasible biventricular correction. Mortality was primarily due to the initial severity of patient condition and concomitant infection. Closed technique for reimplantation can improve the control of bleeding by reducing the number of weak spots of the aortic anastomosis (weak spots in U-shaped or trap door anastomoses are the areas of tying the yarns to create neoaortic root) and by generating the neoaortic sinotubular junction which reduces the risk of aortic insufficiency. Analysis of literature data and our own observations suggest that the closed technique and its modifications reduce the likelihood of coronary ischemia. Reimplantation of the coronary arteries by the closed procedure is feasible in case of any coronary anatomy except intramural coronary artery. Moreover, our modification allows to reduce the time of myocardial ischemia (due to the absence of a stage for aortic clamp removal for the filling neoaorta with blood) and, consequently, the duration of cardiopulmonary bypass and the time of entire procedure.