Interrupted aortic arch. A conservative approach for the sick neonate.
Interrupted aortic arch with associated ventricular septal defect is a congenital cardiovascular defect which, untreated, is lethal in nearly 100% of the cases. We have treated nine patients by reconstructing the aorta with endogenous arch vessels; in five of them, concomitant pulmonary artery banding was also done. If two infants with preoperative complete renal failure are excluded, the mortality with this approach is only 29%. Long-term follow-up of these patients demonstrates excellent hemodynamic results with marked reduction of the anastomotic gradient in the older survivors. Growth of the anastomosis has been noted in the older survivors.
D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery; D004374:Ductus Arteriosus, Patent / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006345:Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000601:surgery