Ascending aortic origin of a branch pulmonary artery--surgical management and long-term outcome.

OBJECTIVE

Ascending aortic origin of a branch pulmonary artery (AOPA, hemitruncus arteriosus) is a rare congenital malformation. While there have been isolated case reports, larger series, relating to long-term outcomes following surgery are few. This article analyses the surgical results of a series of nine patients, over a period of 29 years.

METHODS

Between 1974 and 2003, nine patients [neonates, 6; infants, 3; male, 5; female, 4] were operated on for AOPA. Median age at presentation was 14 days (range birth to 231 days). Six [corrected] patients (group 1) had associated simple lesions like patent ductus arteriosus or right aortic arch. Three patients (group 2) had complex lesions with right ventricular outflow tract obstruction. One patient (group 2) had DiGeorge syndrome. All patients except group 2 presented with congestive cardiac failure and, in addition one had pre-operative coronary ischemia. Diagnosis was established by angiocardiography in two patients and by echocardiography in seven [corrected] The median age at operation was 28 days (range 7-365). Follow-up period ranged from 7 months to 20.5 years (median 9 years).

RESULTS

All nine patients had an anomalous right pulmonary artery (RPA) arising from the proximal ascending aorta, while the left branch was of right ventricular origin. All had evidence of pulmonary hypertension or elevated right ventricular pressure pre-operatively. There was no operative mortality. Of eight patients who had direct anastomosis of the RPA to the main pulmonary artery, one required patch enlargement and another required stenting of an anastomotic stenosis. One patient had a RV-RPA conduit, which required replacement 8, 13, and 14 years later. At follow-up, all patients were alive. All patients in group 1 had normal haemodynamic function and were in NYHA class I. In group 2, all were in NYHA class II with evidence of right ventricular hypertrophy. Four patients had post-operative ventilation-perfusion scans which showed satisfactory perfusion to both lungs.

CONCLUSIONS

Early surgery is indicated in this lesion and is compatible with good long-term outlook. Surgical repair should not be deferred for corrective procedures of associated cardiac anomalies.