The trans-caval approach for surgical correction of sinus venosus atrial septal defect with partial anomalous pulmonary venous drainage into the superior vena cava: Early experience

BackgroundMany techniques have been developed to address the partial anomalous pulmonary venous drainage into the superior vena cava. The morphology of this anomaly is responsible for the possible surgical complications including sinus node dysfunction, systemic and/or pulmonary venous channels obstruction.ObjectivesSince 2010, we started to adopt the vertical trans-caval incision for the correction of this anomaly. Here, we present our early experience.MethodsBetween April 2010 and 2011, six patients, were addressed using one patch of gluteraldehyde prepared autologous pericardium, after vertical superior vena caval incision at the mouth of the anomalous pulmonary veins. Follow up ranged from 2 to 12 months.ResultsThere was no mortality. Post-operative echocardiographic examination of all patients showed unobstructed caval and pulmonary venous flow. Follow up ECG confirmed the absence of arrhythmia.ConclusionVertical trans-caval approach is a reproducible technique for correction of partial anomalous pulmonary venous drainage into the superior vena cava.