Long-term outcomes of total correction for isolated total anomalous pulmonary venous connection: lessons from 50-years’ experience

OBJECTIVES: Isolated total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) is a relatively rare congenital cardiac defect, while pulmonary venous obstruction (PVO) is associated with poor prognosis. We reviewed the long-term outcome of total correction for isolated TAPVC at our institute and analysed the risk factors for mortality and morbidity. METHODS: A total of 290 isolated TAPVC patients evaluated between 1965 and 2016 were divided into 2 groups: Group Early (n = 151) underwent surgery before 1989; Group Late (n = 139) underwent surgery after 1990. The mean age at operation was 10.4 ± 30.2 months (range 0 day to 23 years), and the mean body weight was 5.5 ± 6.0 kg (range 1.6-48 kg). Group Late included more patients with the infracardiac type of TAPVC and preferably used the posterior approach. RESULTS: There were 53 hospital deaths and 16 late deaths. Postoperative PVO was recognized in 28 patients. The mean follow-up time was 18.2 ± 9.7 years (range 2 months to 42.4 years). The actuarial survival rate was improved to 87.8% at 20 years in Group Late. Multivariable analysis revealed that death rate was significantly increased in patients of Group Early, with a body weight <2 kg and with postoperative PVO (P < 0.0001, P = 0.0041, P = 0.0003, respectively). Reoperations were performed 27 times in 22 patients (PVO repair, 11; staged repair, 4 and others, 12). PVO repair was performed at a mean of 2.5 ± 1.6 months later. The actuarial freedom from reoperation rates were 88.8% and 83.2% at 20 and 30 years, respectively. Multivariable analysis revealed that the risk of reoperation was associated with mixed-type TAPVC and postoperative PVO (P = 0.0064 and P < 0.0001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Long-term surgical outcomes of isolated TAPVC have improved over the past 25 years. Postoperative PVO, the mixed-type TAPVC and a body weight <2 kg might be the important factors contributing to mortality and morbidity.