DOUBLE-OUTLET RIGHT VENTRICLE - SURGICAL RESULTS, 1970-1980

  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 85  (1) , 32-40
Abstract
Between Jan. 1, 1970 and Jan. 1, 1980, 62 consecutive patients underwent repair of classic double-outlet right ventricle (DORV). Patients with subpulmonic ventricular septal defect (VSD), complete atrioventricular canal atrioventricular discordance and univentricular heart were excluded. Associated defects (106) were present in 54 patients and 46 patients had pulmonary stenosis. The 36 male and 26 female patients ranged in age from 8 mo. to 37 yr (median age 9 yr). The early mortality was 11% for those with pulmonary stenosis, 25% for those without pulmonary stenosis and 15% for the entire series. The risk of mortality was related to the age of the patient at operation. Causes of early deaths included low cardiac output (3 patients), high residual right ventricular pressure (3 patients), anomalous coronary artery injury (1 patient), infection (1 patient) and hemorrhage (1 patient). Eleven late deaths occurred among the 53 operative survivors (21%). Ten (91%) of the late deaths were attributed to arrhythmia. All except 1 of the long-term survivors are in functional class I or II. Although the operative mortality for the repair of DORV continues to decrease, the late mortality is of concern, and the problem of late arrhythmia necessitates further study and analysis.