Surgical treatment of major intracardiac lesions associated with discordant atrioventricular connexion

Abstract

Thirteen patients with a discordant atrioventricular connexion underwent repair of major associated intracardiac defects. Of the patients, 10 had a discordant ventriculoarterial connexion while 3 had double outlet from the morphologically right ventricle. A ventricular septal defect was the most frequently encountered lesion, present alone or in combination with other lesions in all patients. The other major lesions were pulmonary stenosis in 8, Ebstein's malformation of the left atrioventricular valve in 2, and calcific aortic valve disease in one. The operations performed were closure of the ventricular septal defect in 4 patients, closure of the ventricular septal defect with pulmonary valvotomy in 3 patients (one of whom subsequently underwent replacement of the left atrioventricular valve). Modified Fontan's procedure was performed in 6 patients, one of whom also had replacement of the aortic valve. There was no operative death, although there was one early death on the 40th postoperative day due to septicemia. There has been no late death after an average follow-up of 1.2 years. There was one case of surgically induced complete heart block. All other patients are in normal sinus rhythm in New York Heart Association functional class I or II. Elective repair of major intracardiac anomalies in association with a discordant atrioventricular connexion can now be accomplished safely. The modified Fontan's procedure is a viable alternative in certain cases to the placement of an external valved conduit for relief of pulmonary outflow tract obstruction.