The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 22, 578-583, Copyright © 1976 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Results following physiological repair for tricuspid atresia
CJ Tatooles, RG Ardekani, RA Miller and M Seratto
Fourteen patients underwent a physiological operation for tricuspid
atresia. Seven patients survived up to 3 years after operation. Six
patients underwent hemodynamic studies 2 to 34 months postoperatively
(mean, 15 months). Average age at the time of operation was 14 years
(range, 5 to 25 years). Postoperative studies showed 4 patients to be in
sinus rhythm and 2 in junctional rhythm. Right atrial pressure was elevated
an average of 17 mm Hg (range, 10 to 34 mm Hg). All patients showed good
atrial transport function regardless of their rhythm. Two had a right
atrium-left pulmonary artery gradient of 1.5 to 10 mm Hg across the
conduit. Average arterial saturation was 92% (range, 87 to 97%), on
improvement of 13% over preoperative values. Residual hypoexmia was due to
pulmonary vein desaturation and to atrial right-to- left shunting early
postoperatively and later, to atrial right-to-left shunting alone.