Institutional report - Congenital Growth potential of U-clip interrupted versus polypropylene running suture anastomosis in congenital cardiac surgery: intermediate term results

Although U-clip anastomoses were studied for hemodynamics and patency, their potential for unimpeded growth after congenital cardiovascular surgery has not been investigated yet. In 53 children aged 2.1"3.3 years operated on between March 1998 and August 2005 growth of U-clip (U) vs. polypropylene running sutured (P) anastomoses in coarctation repair (Coarc; ns26), bi-directional Glenn (BDG; ns13) and arterial switch operation (ASO; ns14) was retrospectively analysed. Coarc showed 2.39"4.33 vs. 3.09"2.24 mm of growth during the observation period (21"16 vs. 30"27 months); no growth (0 vs.16%), restenosis (14 vs. 37%) and reinterventions (14 vs. 11%) were similar (all in U vs. P, Psns). BDG showed 3.68"3.43 vs. 2.50"2.55 mm (Psns) of growth during 15"5 vs. 29"18 months (Ps0.046); no growth (17 vs. 0%), stenosis (0 vs. 14%) and reinterventions (0%) were similar in U vs. P, respectively (Psns). Main pulmonary artery (MPA) anastomosis in ASO showed 0.28"1.73 vs. 1.30"3.16 mm of growth during 8"14 vs. 28"28 months; no growth (60 vs. 14%), stenosis (50 vs. 63%) and reinterventions (0%) were similar (all in U vs. P, Psns). Anastomotic growth, stenosis and reintervention rates show no difference between interrupted U-clip and polypropylene running sutured technique in Coarc repair, BDG and MPA anastomosis in ASO. 2009 Published by European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.