The Failed Bidirectional Glenn Shunt: Risk Factors for Poor Outcomes and the Role of Early Reoperation

Abstract

Background: Bidirectional Glenn shunt (BDG) failure carries high morbidity and mortality but the clinical factors associated with failure and the optimal management strategy are understudied. Methods: A total of 217 patients undergoing BDG at our institution between 1989 and 2020 were retrospectively reviewed and categorized as success or failure. Failure was defined as the need for reoperation (BDG takedown, reoperation for correction of cardiac defect, and/or transplantation) at any time postoperatively; operative mortality (death attributable to BDG malfunction occurring during the index hospitalization for BDG or within 30 days of discharge); or late mortality (death directly attributable to BDG malfunction occurring prior to Fontan or next-stage palliation). Univariate and binary logistic regression analyses were performed. Results: BDG failure occurred in 14 (6.5%) patients. Univariate predictors were: hypoplastic left heart syndrome ( P = .037), right ventricular (RV) dominance ( P = .010), greater pre-BDG pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) ( P = .012), concomitant atrioventricular valve repair ( P = .020), prolonged pleural drainage ( P = .001), intensive care unit ( P<.001) and hospital ( P = .002) stays, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) requirement ( P<.001). Multivariate predictors were: RV dominance ( P = .002), greater PVR ( P = .041), ICU ( P<.001) and hospital ( P = .020) stays, and need for ECMO ( P<.001). As many as 10 of 14 (71%) patients with BDG failure died. Reoperation was performed for 10 patients with BDG failure. Five reoperation patients survived until discharge, with four patients alive at last follow-up (mean 7.9 years). Survivors underwent reoperation earlier than nonsurvivors (36 vs. 94 days). Conclusions: BDG failure carries high mortality, but preoperative predictors and postoperative indicators of failure exist. Early BDG takedown and insertion of aorta-pulmonary shunt may allow survival.

Identifying Posterior Venous Collaterals Associated with Inordinate Hypoxemia After the Superior Cavopulmonary Anastomosis

“…However, some patients with inordinate hypoxemia may ultimately be treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation when collaterals are not successfully identified and closed. Greenberg and associates reported an increased risk for poor outcome when extracorporeal support is needed [6]. Further, Kendall and associates have reported that length of hospitalization after the SCPA is a risk factor for attrition before the total cavopulmonary anastomosis [7].…”

Management of failing bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt: Influence of additional systemic-to-pulmonary-artery shunt with classic Glenn physiology

“…Greenberg and colleagues demonstrated that 4 out of 6 (66.6%) patients died (n = 3) or needed heart transplantation (n = 1) after complete takedown. 22 We know that complete takedown is associated with substantial mortality, usually more than 50%. Additionally, we performed a total of 572 staged Fontan procedure between 1994 and 2021.…”

Textbook Outcome for Superior Cavopulmonary Connection: A Metric for Single Ventricle Heart Surgery

“…11,12 Furthermore, certain perioperative risk factors predispose patients to complications after the Glenn operation, and developing tools that allow for better prognostication could assist in both prognostication and surgical decision-making. 13 Thus, construction of an operation-specific TO for the Glenn operation may be particularly informative. Here, we aimed to define a TO for the Glenn operation and evaluated its ability to predict long-term outcomes and cost of care.…”