OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess mitral valve function after repair of ventricular septal defect (VSD) combined with mitral regurgitation (MR) in the mid-term follow-up period, to evaluate the clinical utility of simultaneous mitral valve repair (MVR). METHODS: From June 2005 to March 2014, 60 patients with VSD and MR underwent surgical treatment. After performing propensity score analysis (1:1) for the entire sample, 46 patients were selected and divided into 2 groups: those with VSD closure and MVR - 23 patients and those with VSD closure without mitral valve intervention - 23 patients. The follow-up period - 32 (28;40) months. RESULTS: There was no postoperative mortality in either group. There was no significant difference in the duration of the postoperative period between groups. Mean cardiopulmonary bypass time and aortic cross-clamping time were significantly longer in the 'VSD + MVR' group (cardiopulmonary bypass, P=0.023; aortic cross-clamp, P< 0.001). There was no significant difference in regurgitation area (P=0.30) and MR grade (P= 0.76) between groups postoperatively. There was no significant difference in freedom from MR ≥ 2+ between groups (log-rank test, P= 0.28). The only significant risk factor for recurrent MR ≥ 2+ during the follow-up period was mild residual MR in the early postoperative period ( P=0.037). CONCLUSIONS: In infants with VSD combined with MR, simultaneous MVR has no benefits simultaneous MVR provided no advantage over that of isolated VSD closure. We found that the presence of mild residual MR in the early postoperative period predisposes the development of MR ≥ 2+ in follow-up period.

<p><strong>Aim:</strong> The paper focuses on assessment of the late results and causes of complications when repairing coarctation with distal aortic arch hypoplasia.<br /><strong>Methods:</strong> This prospective randomized study included 54 patients who underwent repair of coarctation of the aorta. All patients were divided in 2 groups depending on the correction type: reconstruction using the modified reverse left subclavian artery flap plasty (Group I, 27 pts) or extended end-to-end anastomosis (Group II, 27 pts).<br /><strong>Results:</strong> A postoperative follow-up period was 26 (21;31) months. Recoarctation of the aorta during long-term follow-up was found in 1 patient (3.84%) in Group I and in 2 patients (7.7%) in Group II (p=0.5). Two patients in the Group I (7.7%) and 8 patients in the Group II (30.8%) had arterial hypertension (p=0.03).<br /><strong>Conclusion:</strong> With modern types of surgical correction used, the anastomotic area tended to proportionally grow in different segments of the aortic arch and did not influence the postoperative complications rate. Endocardial fibroelastosis and ascending aortic wall rigidity could be considered as predictors of arterial hypertension in the late period after coarctation repair in infants. Low body weight before surgery is a factor of aortic recoarctation development in the late postoperative period. Arterial hypertension persistence depends on the correction type. One-stage reconstruction of the distal aortic arch allows for reducing the rate of arterial hypertension from 30.8% to 7.7%. Despite a range of complications in the late postoperative period, the infants’ quality of life was not affected and was high in both groups.</p>

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome is a congenital heart disease that affects the normal blood flow through the heart and it characterized by a critical underdevelopment of the left heart. Hypoplastic left heart syndrome is 1.43.8% among all congenital heart defects and 16% among critical congenital heart disease. Mortality in large cardiac surgery centers currently does not exceed 15%. However, mortality among patients with low body mass is up to 51% after the first stage of palliative surgery. In our clinical case, we describe hemodynamic surgery in neonatal with left-heart hypoplasia syndrome and low body weight (Norwood procedure with Sano shunt), postoperative case management inter-stage period and bidirectional cavopulmonary anastomosis procedure (second stage of hemodynamic correction).