The role of a bidirectional cavopulmonary anastomosis in the correction and palliation of complex congenital cardiopathies

Between May 1990 and January 1998, 68 patients underwent bidirectional cavo-pulmonary anastomosis. We evaluated all patients in whom the bidirectional cavo-pulmonary anastomosis was associated with additional pulmonary flow (group A) and those in whom it was associated with biventricular repair (group B). Group A included 23 patients (33.8%), 14 males and 9 females, mean age 25 years and 6 months (range 4 months-16 years). Diagnoses were double outlet right ventricle (6), univentricular heart (6), tricuspid atresia (5), congenitally-corrected transposition of the great arteries with ventricular septal defect and pulmonary stenosis (3), right isomerism (2) and pulmonary atresia with atrioventricular canal (1). Group B included 13 patients (19.1%), 6 males and 7 females, mean age 13 years and 7 months (range 1 year-37 years). Diagnoses were pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum (4), Ebstein's anomaly (3), tetralogy of Fallot (3), atrioventricular canal (1), hypoplastic right ventricle (1), and pulmonary and tricuspid insufficiency (1). Four patients (17.3%) in group A died in the postoperative period, whereas there was no postoperative mortality in group B. Follow-up data were available in 31 patients (19 from group A, 13 from group B). Mean follow-up was 1 year and 6 months (range 30 days to 6 years). Evaluation was done by NYHA class functional status. In group A, 14 patients are doing well (NYHA I or II), while five patients (26.3%) underwent Fontan operation with one death. All group B patients are currently doing well (NYHA class I or II). In group A, complications were pericardial effusion (7), transient superior vena cava syndrome (5), pleural effusion (4), chylothorax (1) and rhythm disturbance (1). Complications in group B involved neurological events (2), pleural effusion (1) and rhythm disturbance (1). Bidirectional cavo-pulmonary anastomosis can be associated with additional pulmonary flow with good short- and intermediate-term outcome. Concern remains for the ability to properly regulate the amount of effective pulmonary blood flow. Bidirectional cavo-pulmonary anastomosis can be associated with biventricular repair in patients with diminutive right ventricles, amenable to anatomic complete correction, with good clinical outcome.