Left atrial appendage insertion for right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction

Background. The left atrial appendage (LAA) may serve as an alternative to the pulmonary arterial wall for right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) reconstruction without an extracardiac conduit. Methods. Five consecutive patients with pulmonary atresia or severe stenosis underwent corrective (n = 4) or palliative (n = 1) RVOT reconstruction using an LAA insertion. Surgery was performed to treat tetralogy of Fallot, double-outlet right ventricle, or transposition of the great arteries. By inserting the LAA into the obstructed portion, the width of the posterior wall of the RVOT was 20 mm or more. The anterior half of the RVOT was then augmented with pericardial patch. Results. There were no early or late postoperative deaths, and no major complications (arrhythmias, thrombo-embolic episodes, infective endocarditis, need for reoperation). The postrepair systolic right ventricular-to-systemic arterial pressure ratio was 0.61 ± 0.26. Color Doppler flow mapping revealed that the reconstructed RVOT was nonobstructive and had nonturbulent flow. No thrombus or pseudoneointimal formation was observed in the RVOT. Conclusions. LAA insertion in the RVOT is an effective alternative to, or adjunct of, direct anastomosis. It offers several advantages, including fewer early and midterm complications and avoiding the use of an extracardiac conduit.