Study on the Growth of the Aortic Aannulus, Root, and Anastomosis After Arterial Switch Operation in Infancy

Lee, Jeong Ryul; Park, Jeong Jun; Chang, Woo Ik; Yun, Tae Jin; Kim, Yong Jin; Rho, Joon Ryang; Suh, Kyung Phill; Noh, Chung Il; Choi, Jung Yun; Yun, Yong Soo

Abstract

We investigated changes of the size of neoaortic annulus, root, and aortic anastomosis after arterial switch operation for complete transposition of the great arteries performed in infancy. A total of 23 patients were included in this study. Age ranged from 6 to 153 days. Body weight averaged 3.9+/-0.8kg and 17 patients were male. The preoperative angiocardiographic dimensions of the pulmonary annulus, the pulmonary root, and the sinotubular junction, standardized to the diameter of descending aorta at the level of diaphragm, were compared to the size of postoperative measurements of the neoaortic annulus, the neoaortic root, and the aortic anastomosis at a mean interval of 17.2+/-9.4 months. Mean dimensions of the neoaortic annulus and the neoaortic root were significantly increased postoperatively(n=23, annulus; p<0.01, root; p<0.01), however, those of the aortic anastomosis did not reveal significant change(n=23, p=0.06). There were no significant differences in changes of diameters of the neoaortic annulus, the root, and the aortic anastomosis between patients with(n=8) and without(n=15) postoperative neoaortic regurgitation(annulus; p=0.32, root; p=0.29, anastomosis; p=0.86). Postoperative dimensions of the neoaortic root and annulus between patients with ventricular septal defect(n=10) and without ventricular septal defect(n=13) were not significantly changed compared to the preoperative measurements(annulus; p=0.09, root; p=0.07) but mean diameters of the aortic anastomosis decreased significantly after operation in patients with ventricular septal defect(p=0.04). This study revealed that the site of the aortic anastomosis grows in proportion to patient's somatic growth after arterial switch operation. Although we could not demonstrate the relation between the aortic root dilatation and the postoperative neoaortic regurgitation in this study, a continuous close follow-up might be necessary to detect a possible progression of the aortic root dilatation and the resulting significant aortic valve regurgitation.