Double-outlet right ventricle with nonrelated ventricular septal defect: surgical results using the multiple patches technique.

OBJECTIVE: Introduce a new surgical technique for biventricular correction of double-outlet right ventricle with noncommitted ventricular septal defect. METHODS: From April 1987 to February 1996, 15 patients with double-outlet right ventricle with noncommitted ventricular septal defect were operated on using a new technique for biventricular repair with multiple bovine pericardial patches to create a tunnel between the left ventricle and the aorta. Ages ranged from two months to 13 years (mean age 4.8 years). Thirteen patients had situs solitus and levocardia, one patient had situs inversus and dextrocardia, and one patient had situs solitus and dextrocardia. Construction of the tunnel began at the right atrium. The ventricular septal defect (VSD) was enlarged anteriorly, if restrictive or small, and the first patch was sutured in the infero-posterior edge of the VSD. The second, third and sometimes the fourth patches were sutured in sequence, through the right ventriculotomy, directing the tunnel to the aortic annulus. RESULTS: Overall mortality was 20%, with two early and one late death. The surviving patients were followed-up for a period ranging from ten months to nine years (mean 33 months), and all were in functional class I (NYHA). Minimal residual ventricular septal defect was observed in one patient, stenosis in two patients and moderate pulmonary insufficiency in one. There was no obstruction of the intraventricular tunnel between the LV and the aorta. CONCLUSION: Based on these data, we conclude that this technical modification for the biventricular repair of the double-outlet right ventricle with noncommitted VSD allows for the construction of a tunnel with adequate internal diameter, respecting the spatial changes between the VSD and aorta. In addition, the intraventricular bovine pericardial tunnel takes up less space, thus reducing the incidence of right ventricle outlet obstruction.