Analysis of arrhythmias after correction of partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection.
BACKGROUND
Several methods for surgical repair of partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection have been described. Sinus node dysfunction is known as a cause of morbidity after surgical repair. In this retrospective study, we attempted to determine the incidence of arrhythmias after use of two different techniques for repair of partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection.


METHODS
Between 1988 and 2006, 119 patients (61 male, 58 female; aged 5 months to 66 years) with anomalous drainage of the pulmonary vein into the superior vena cava or the right atrium were analyzed. All patients had sinus rhythm before operation. In 64 patients (group 1), rerouting of the pulmonary veins was accomplished through a right atriotomy; and in 54 patients (group 2), the atriotomy incision was extended into the superior vena cava through the cavoatrial junction.


RESULTS
There were no perioperative deaths. New-onset nodal rhythm and atrial dysrhythmias developed significantly more often in patients with extended incision through the cavoatrial junction (group 1, 26.5%, versus group 2, 54.5%; p < 0.004). At discharge, the rate of dysrhythmias was 14% in group 1 and 32.7% in group 2 (p < 0.01). The hospital stay was longer in group 2. At 1-year follow-up of 58 patients, the rate of arrhythmias was 6.25% in group 1 versus 18.1% in group 2.


CONCLUSIONS
Extended incision through the cavoatrial junction increases atrial dysrhythmias, especially early postoperatively, but the incidence of such sinus node dysfunction decreased with time.
Buz
Semih
S
Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Deutsches Herzzentrum Berlin, Berlin, Germany. buz@dhzb.de
Alexi-Meskishvili
Vladimir
V
Villavicencio-Lorini
Funda
F
Yigitbasi
Mustafa
M
Hübler
Michael
M
Weng
Yuguo
Y
Berger
Felix
F
Hetzer
Roland
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011667:Pulmonary Veins / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000601:surgery; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012587:Scimitar Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014683:Vena Cava, Superior / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult