Single ventricle palliation in congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries: An international multicenter study

Abstract

Background: Single ventricle palliation may be performed in patients with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries due to hypoplasia of 1 ventricle or anatomic complexity rendering biventricular repair unfeasible. There have been only a few small studies of the outcomes of single ventricle palliation in the setting of congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries. Methods: A multicenter, international, retrospective cohort study of patients with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries undergoing single ventricle palliation was conducted in 29 tertiary hospitals in 6 countries from 1990 to 2018. Results: A total of 194 patients with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries underwent single ventricle palliation. A functionally univentricular heart was present in 62.4% (121/194). Patients with 2 good-sized ventricles had more laterality defects (50.7% vs 28.1%, P =.002). Fontan completion was achieved in 80.3% (155/194). A tricuspid valve surgery was performed in 9.3% (18/194). Survival was 97.4% (95% CI, 92.1-99.2) at 15 years in the univentricular cohort and 89.8% (95% CI, 78.0–95.5) at 15 years in those with 2 adequate ventricles (P =.05). At last follow-up, 11.5% of patients had heart failure, whereas 6.0% had moderate or greater systemic right ventricle dysfunction and 8.4% exhibited moderate or greater tricuspid regurgitation. In multivariable analysis, aortic coarctation or hypoplasia (hazard ratio, 7.7; P =.005) was associated with mortality. Conclusions: Single ventricle palliation in patients with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries is associated with excellent long-term survival and low rates of heart failure and atrioventricular valve failure. In patients who would require complex surgery to achieve a biventricular repair, single ventricle palliation appears to be a good alternative.