Long-Term Outcomes After Surgical Pulmonary Arterioplasty and Risk Factors for Reintervention

Abstract

Background: Although surgical patch arterioplasty is the conventional therapy for branch pulmonary artery (PA) stenosis, limited data exist on long-term outcomes. We examined the incidence of and risk factors for reintervention after surgical arterioplasty for branch PA stenosis in biventricular congenital heart disease.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients with 2-ventricle physiology who underwent patch arterioplasty for PA stenosis at a single high-volume congenital heart center during a 10-year period. Freedom from surgical or percutaneous reintervention for recurrent PA stenosis was evaluated. Univariate and multivariable Cox regression analyses were performed to determine risk factors for reintervention.

Results: Among 135 patients, the median age at patch arterioplasty was 0.9 years. Survival to hospital discharge (or 30 days postoperatively) was 96%. During a median follow-up period of 4.0 years, reintervention for PA stenosis occurred in 38 of 115 patients (33%) at a median time to reintervention of 1.4 years. The overall 10-year reintervention rate was 54%. In univariate analysis, age less than 30 days at initial arterioplasty, congenital PA stenosis (vs acquired), and bilateral PA stenosis (vs unilateral) were significantly associated with reintervention. In multivariable analysis, neonatal age (adjusted hazard ratio, 3.6; p = 0.002) and bilateral PA stenosis (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.8; p = 0.005) remained independently associated with reintervention.

Conclusions: Long-term reintervention for recurrent PA stenosis after patch arterioplasty is common. Patients with bilateral PA stenosis or age younger than 30 days at the time of the index pulmonary arterioplasty are at higher risk for reintervention. These patients may benefit from frequent monitoring or novel approaches to repair.