Right ventricular restoration during pulmonary valve implantation in adults with congenital heart disease

Objective: Pulmonary regurgitation may cause progressive right ventricular dilatation and dysfunction in adult patients previously repaired for right ventricular outflow tract obstruction (RVOTO), and who require subsequent valve implantation for relief of these symptoms. Right ventricular recovery after pulmonary valve implantation (PVI) may be closely linked to the functional importance of the structural presence of an aneurysm or akinetic segment in the RVOT area. To test this concept, the impact of the right ventricular restoration with a new surgical ventriculoplasty technique is evaluated following pulmonary valve implantation in patients with severe pulmonary regurgitation and right ventricular dilatation. Methods: Sixteen patients with severe pulmonary valve regurgitation (PVR) and right ventricular dilatation with RVOT aneurysm underwent right ventricular remodelling since January 2002. Each underwent preoperative evaluation by Doppler echocardiography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and right ventricular myocardial acceleration during isovolumic contraction (IVC). The surgical procedure included pulmonary valve implantation and RVOT restoration achieved by removal of the aneurysm tissue, coupled with a ventriculoplasty to reduce volume, accomplished by creating a satisfactory RVOT dimension by placing with 2-0 Gortex suture to allow acceptance of a 26 Hegar dilator to avoid restriction. Thirteen associate surgical procedures were added in nine patients. Results: All patients survived the operative procedure and underwent a 16-month follow-up interval. A reduction of cardio thoracic index and a clinical improvement occurred in each patient. Significant reduction of RVEDV and RVESV and increased right ventricular ejection fraction was observed, and IVC changed from 0.7 ± 0.5 m/s ² to 1.3 ± 0.6 m/s ² in the 13 patients that underwent MRI and IVC during the preoperative control interval and 6 months after the procedure. Conclusions: This preliminary database implies that the right ventricular restoration is a simple and effective procedure, and introduces a structural component that should be added during pulmonary valve implantation in patients with severe right ventricular dilatation and underlying aneurysm or akinesia of the right ventricular outflow tract.