The yasui operation for patients with adequate-sized ventricles and ventricular septal defect associated with obstructions of the aortic arch and left ventricular outflow tract

OBJECTIVE: To review the surgical outcome of the Yasui operation in patients with adequate-sized ventricles and ventricular septal defect (VSD) associated with obstructions of the aortic arch and left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT). METHODS: Since 1985, 17 patients have undergone the Yasui operation at our institution. Interrupted aortic arch was present in 11 patients and coarctation of the aorta/hypoplastic arch was present in 6. Twelve patients had aortic stenosis, and 5 patients had aortic atresia. The minimum diameter of the LVOT and the z-score in patients with aortic stenosis were 3.7 ± 0.4 mm and �9.2 ± 1.2, respectively. Primary repair was performed in 6 patients, and 11 patients were staged, with bilateral pulmonary artery banding (PAB) in 8, arch repair with PAB in 2 and Norwood operation in 1. The mean age and body weight at the time of the Yasui operation was 4.7 ± 5.3 months and 4.5 ± 1.8 kg, respectively. The ascending aorta and aortic arch were reconstructed by Damus–Kaye–Stansel (DKS) anastomosis with graft interposition in 2, DKS with direct anastomosis in 6 and Norwood-type reconstruction in 9. VSD was enlarged in 6 patients. Right ventricle to pulmonary artery continuity was established with a valved conduit in 14 patients, the Lecompte manoeuvre in 2 patients and another method in 1 patient. The mean duration of the follow-up was 7.6 ± 9.2 years. RESULTS: There was 1 early death due to myocardial infarction and 1 late death due to non-cardiac cause. The actuarial survival at 10 years was 87.8%. Six patients underwent reoperation, including 5 conduit exchanges, 2 LVOT repairs and 2 aortic arch repairs. The freedom from reoperation for all causes at 5 and 10 years were 71.3 and 28.5%, respectively. In the last echo study, LVOT flow velocity was 1.2 ± 0.8 m/s, and neoaortic valve regurgitation was mild in 1 patient and trivial or absent in the remaining patients. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the Yasui operation were excellent, showing low mortality and good mid-term left ventricular function without outflow tract stenosis or neoaortic valve insufficiency. Bilateral PAB as initial palliation is a useful option in symptomatic neonates.