Superior Sinus Venosus Atrial Septal Defect: Overview of Surgical Options

Abstract

Background: Superior sinus venosus atrial septal defect (SV-ASD) is an interatrial defect with partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection (PAPVC) draining into the right atrium. The principle for SV-ASD surgical repair involves redirecting the pulmonary venous blood back to the left atrium and closure of the atrial septal defect without compromising the adjoining structures. Methods: We reviewed English literature relating to this topic via a MEDLINE and Google scholar search using the following terms: surgery for sinus venosus atrial septal defect (SV-ASD), surgery for partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection (PAPVC) and complications of the surgery. Results: A total of 910 consecutive cohort patients with different surgical options between 1984 to 2012 were analyzed. The breakdown showed that 291(32.0%) had single-patch, 275(30.2%) had Warden’s procedure, 185(20.3%) had a double-patch and 159(17.5%) had use of autologous right atrial appendage for the anastomosis. The total follow-up was between 0.008-30 years. Sinus node dysfunction (SND) was the commonest complication occurring mostly in patients who had double-patch technique 16(8.6%) followed by 15(5.5%) patients with single-patch technique, 7(4.4%) patients in whom right atrial appendage was used and 5(1.8%) patients with Warden’s procedure. Venous obstruction occurred in 22(7.7%) patients with SP, 13(5.1%) patients with Warden’s Procedure and 5(2.7%) patients with double-patch. Conclusion: The two major complications, SND and venous obstruction, assumed a see-saw approach as surgical maneuvers avoiding venous obstruction encouraged SND and vice versa. However, adopting surgical options which avoided incision across the Cavoatrial junction attenuated all the complications.