Early and medium-term results for repair of Ebstein anomaly.
OBJECTIVE
We evaluated the early and medium-term single-center results for primary repair of Ebstein anomaly in both adults and children.


METHODS
The records were reviewed of patients undergoing repair of Ebstein anomaly at the Children's Hospital of New York from September 1990 to September 2002. Functional, demographic, and echocardiographic parameters were studied both preoperatively and postoperatively, along with functional status and adverse events. The repair technique involved vertical plication of the atrialized ventricle and valve leaflet reimplantation after clockwise rotation.


RESULTS
A total of 25 patients (19 children and 6 adults) underwent repair. The average age was 14.2 +/- 15.9 years, and the average follow-up was 4.1 +/- 3.4 years. Three patients required reoperation for right ventricular overload (1 child) and progressive, severe tricuspid regurgitation (2 adults); both adults received tricuspid valve replacements, one at 4 years and the other at 8 years post-repair. Three patients had radiofrequency ablation procedures performed intraoperatively. Ten patients (40%) had moderate-to-severe tricuspid regurgitation perioperatively. However, 18 children (95%) and 5 adults (83%) demonstrated significant improvement in exercise capacity late postoperatively. Two children died suddenly 11 months and 4 years after repair.


CONCLUSIONS
Ebstein repair has good functional outcomes in children despite residual tricuspid regurgitation, likely because of reduction in right ventricular volume loading and relative annular and ventricular plasticity. Adult patients did not demonstrate the same durability of valve repair and frequently required tricuspid valve replacement. Intraoperative radiofrequency ablation represents an important adjunctive treatment for intractable arrhythmias, which may now represent relative indications for operative intervention.
Chen
Jonathan M
JM
Division of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, Children's Hospital of New York, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, NY 10032, USA. jmc23@columbia.edu
Mosca
Ralph S
RS
Altmann
Karen
K
Printz
Beth F
BF
Targoff
Kimara
K
Mazzeo
Pamela A
PA
Quaegebeur
Jan M
JM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004437:Ebstein Anomaly / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009518:New York; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D012086:Reoperation; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014262:Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D016276:Ventricular Function / Q000502:physiology