Objective: Truncal valve regurgitation and interrupted aortic arch have frequently been identified as risk factors in the repair of truncus arteriosus. We wished to examine these factors in the current era including the impact of truncal valve repair.
Methods: Between January 1992 and August 1998, 50 patients underwent surgical repair of truncus arteriosus. Their ages ranged from 2 days to 6 months (median, 2 weeks). Nine patients had associated interrupted aortic arch. Of the 14 patients (28%) in whom truncal valve regurgitation was diagnosed preoperatively, 5 had mild regurgitation, 5 had moderate regurgitation, and 4 had severe regurgitation. Five underwent truncal valve repair and 1 underwent homograft replacement of the truncal valve with coronary reimplantation.
Results: The actuarial survival was 96% at 30 days, 1 year, and 3 years. There were no deaths in patients with associated interrupted aortic arch. The 2 deaths in the series occurred in patients with truncal valve regurgitation, neither of whom underwent repair. Postoperative transthoracic echocardiography in patients who underwent valve repair showed minimal residual valvular regurgitation. None of the patients has required reoperation because of truncal valve problems or aortic arch stenosis at a median follow-up of 23 months (range, 1-60 months). Conduit replacement has been done in 17 patients (34%) after a mean duration of 2 years. The freedom from reoperation for those who had an aortic homograft was 4 years and for those who had a pulmonary homograft was 3 years.
Conclusion: Despite the magnitude of the operation, excellent results can be achieved in complex forms of truncus arteriosus. In the current era interrupted aortic arch is no longer a risk factor for repair of truncus. Aggressive application of truncal valvuloplasty methods should neutralize the traditional risk factor of truncal valve regurgitation.