The Annals of thoracic surgery
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Chronic pulmonary regurgitation after tetralogy of Fallot repair often leads to progressive right ventricle dilation, dysfunction, and frequently, pulmonary valve replacement. For those with significant tricuspid regurgitation at the time of pulmonary valve replacement, it is unknown whether concomitant tricuspid valve repair improves postoperative outcomes. ⋯ Tricuspid regurgitation is a common finding in repaired tetralogy of Fallot, although risk factors for its development remain unclear. After pulmonary valve replacement with or without tricuspid valve repair there is significant improvement in the degree of tricuspid regurgitation and right ventricular size. Finally, 6 months after pulmonary valve replacement there were no statistical differences between those patients undergoing concomitant tricuspid valve repair and those undergoing pulmonary valve replacements alone.
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Thymoma patients with no prior history of myasthenia gravis (MG) occasionally have MG after thymectomy. This study aimed to identify risk factors for developing postthymectomy MG. ⋯ A positive result for serum AchR-Ab, type B1/B2/B3 thymoma histology, and incomplete resection were considered risk factors for the development of postthymectomy MG. Preoperative levels of serum AchR-Ab should be examined in all thymoma patients. Perioperative chemotherapy or radiotherapy for the patients with incomplete resection might reduce the risk of MG development.
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We describe the case of a 22-year-old with tetralogy of Fallot, who underwent complete repair with ventricular septal defect closure and right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduit placement. She has undergone numerous subsequent conduit changes, each complicated by early stenosis and failure. ⋯ While extra-anatomic conduits have been described for complex left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, they have not been described for right-sided obstruction. Herein, we present a patient who underwent successful placement of an extra-anatomic valved right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduit in the setting of complex right ventricular outflow tract obstruction.