Traditional single patch versus the “Australian” technique for repair of complete atrioventricular canal defects

• Published in: Surgery today (Tokyo, Japan) Vol. 38; no. 11; pp. 999 - 1003
• Main Authors: Halit, Velit, Oktar, Gursel Levent, Imren, Veli Yildirim, Iriz, Erkan, Erer, Dilek, Kula, Serdar, Tunaoglu, Fatma Sedef, Gokgoz, Levent, Olgunturk, Rana
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan Springer Japan 01-11-2008
• Subjects: Cardiac Surgical Procedures - methods; Child, Preschool; Female; Heart Septal Defects - surgery; Humans; Infant; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Original Article; Surgery; Surgical Oncology; Single patch technique; Atrioventricular septal defect; Left atrioventricular valve regurgitation
• ISSN: 0941-1291; 1436-2813
• DOI: 10.1007/s00595-008-3786-7

Purpose
A variety of operative techniques has been used to repair complete atrioventricular (AV) canal defects and satisfactory outcomes after single patch repairs have been reported. We report our comparative results of repairing complete AV canal defects between 1998 and 2006 using the traditional single patch and the “Australian” techniques.
Methods
Fourteen patients underwent traditional AV canal repair with the single patch technique (Group 1) and 11 patients underwent repair with the “Australian” technique (Group 2). All patients were examined with preoperative echocardiography and cardiac catheterization, and were followed up with echocardiography to evaluate AV valve and ventricular function.
Results
There were two early postoperative deaths in Group 1 and one in Group 2. One patient from each group had moderate left AV valve regurgitation postoperatively, but none from either group had left ventricular outflow obstruction.
Conclusions
The “Australian” technique is a simpler method requiring shorter aortic cross-clamping and total bypass times with good clinical and functional results. The early postoperative results are as encouraging as those achieved by the traditional single patch technique; however, long-term follow-up results are required to establish the efficacy of this simplified technique.