Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) is the 4th most common lesion requiring neonatal open heart surgery and is the most common anomaly resulting in death from congenital heart disease within the first year of life.
Objectives: Compare the results of two different surgical techniques for aortic arch reconstruction (Group 1:autologous pericardium patch versus Group 2:homograft) in Norwood procedure.
Methods:
This is a single institutional retrospective study performed in 43 paediatric patients submitted to Norwood procedure from 1998 to 2008.
Results:
Median age of the studied population at the surgery was:13 days (1-90). More males. Post operative mortality(6 pts) . Median follow-up was 3,4 years (0.1 -10). Ten patients are at 3rd surgical stage (Fontan). Group 1:22 pts; Group 2: 16 pts. 5 pts were excluded. There´s no statistically difference between two groups considering clinical outcome and morphology of aorta.
Conclusion:
The incidence of aortic coarctation using both techniques is lower.
In studies the use of autologous pericardium patch was preferable considering economic aspects and the possibility of a future cardiac transplantation.