Abstract: Objective To analyze the manifestation, treatment,outcome and potentially predisposing risk factors of perioperative thromboembolism after cavo-pulmonary connection, and to assess the effects of our prophylactic antithrombotic strategy. Methods Clinical data of 264 cases of bidirectional Glenn and 224 cases of total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC) operations undertaken from September 2005 to December 2010 in Fu wai hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Perioperative thromboembolic complications occurred in 9 patients. 5 of them were after bidirectional Glenn, 4 were after TCPC. Most of the 9 patients had at least one thrombi-related risk factor. The routine prophylactic antithrombotic therapy after these operations were intravenous infusion of heparin 10 U/(kg·h) initially, followed with oral aspirin 1-3 mg/(kg·d). Results Thromboembolic events occurred within 7 days after the operation in 6 cases, appeared 2 to 4 weeks after the surgery in 3 cases. All 9 patients received anticoagulation with heparin. One patient also undertook take-down operation. 3 (33%) patients died, accounting for 33% (1/3), and 18% (2/11) of the early deaths after bidirectional Glenn and TCPC operations. Clinical symptoms improved or disappeared in the remaining 6 patients. Conclusion The mortality of perioperative thromboembolic complications after cavo-pulmonary connection is high, consisting of the important cause of early deaths after these procedures. Our prophylactic anticoagulation strategy proved to be effective, though some thrombi-relatedrisk factors still need to be avoided.
ObjectiveTo summarize our clinical experience of bidirectional Glenn procedure (BGP) for the treatment of complex cyanotic congenital heart disease (CHD). MethodsClinical data of 68 patients with complex cyanotic CHD who underwent BGP in People's General Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from January 2007 to December 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 40 male and 28 female patients with their average age of 3.9 years (range, 3 months to 22 years) and body weight of 6.2-53.0 (13.6±8.5)kg. Preoperative diagnosis included tricuspid atresia in 20 patients, single ventricle (SV) in 11 patients, double outlet right ventricle in 10 patients, complete transposition of great arteries in 7 patients, tricuspid stenosis in 5 patients, pulmonary atresia in 5 patients, corrected transposition of great arteries in 4 patients, tetralogy of Fallot in 4 patients and Ebstein's anomaly in 2 patients. Among them, there were 14 patients with dextrocardia or dextroversion of the heart, 2 patients with SV and pulmonary hypertension after pulmonary artery banding, and 1 complete transposition of great arteries patient after aortopulmonary shunt. Twenty-three patients received BGP under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and 45 patients received BGP without CPB. ResultsTwo patients died postoperatively, including 1 patient with severe low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS) and another patient with pulmonary infection. Postoperative pulse oximetry oxyhemoglobin saturation (SpO2, 89.3%±7.4%) was significantly higher than preoperative SpO2 (66.8%±11.8%, P < 0.05). In 53 patients, postoperative SpO2 was more than 10% higher than preopera-tive SpO2. Postoperative hematocrit (0.40±0.07) was significantly lower than preoperative hematocrit (0.49±0.11, P < 0.05). Postoperative complications included pleural effusion in 16 patients (23.5%), chylothorax in 7 patients (10.3%), LCOS in 5 patients (7.4%), arrhythmias in 4 patients (5.9%), and pneumothorax in 1 patient (1.5%), who were all cured after appropriate treatment. Fifty-five patients were followed up for 9 months to 6 years after discharge with satisfactory clinical results. All anastomoses remained patent without stenosis or thrombosis. Four patients successfully received total cavopulmonary connection 2 to 5 years after discharge. ConclusionBGP is safe and reliable for patients with complex cyanotic CHD who cannot undergo anatomic correlation or one-stage repair.