Comparison of ductus stent versus surgical systemic-to-pulmonary shunt as initial palliation in patients with univentricular heart

Abstract

Objectives: In this study, we aimed to compare infants with univentricular hearts who underwent an initial ductus stenting to those receiving a surgical systemic-to-pulmonary shunt (SPS).

Methods: All infants with univentricular heart and ductal-dependent pulmonary blood flow who underwent initial palliation with either a ductus stenting or a surgical SPS between 2009 and 2022 were reviewed. Outcomes were compared after ductus stenting or SPS including survival, probability of re-interventions and the probability to reach stage II palliations.

Results: A total of 130 patients were evaluated, including 49 ductus stenting and 81 SPSs. The most frequent primary diagnosis was tricuspid atresia in 27, followed by pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum in 19 patients. There was comparable hospital mortality (2.0% stent vs 3.7% surgery, P = 0.91) between the groups, but shorter intensive care unit stay (median 1 vs 7 days, P < 0.01) and shorter hospital stay (median 7 vs 17 days, P < 0.01) were observed in patients with initial ductus stenting, compared to those with SPS. However, acute procedure-related complications were more frequently observed in patients with ductus stenting, compared with those with SPS (20.4 vs 6.2%, P = 0.01), and 10 patients needed a shunt procedure after the initial ductus stent. The cumulative incidence of reaching stage II was similar between ductus stenting and SPS (88.0 vs 90.6% at 12 months, P = 0.735). Pulmonary artery (PA) index (median 194 vs 219 mm2/m2, P = 0.93) at stage II was similar between patients with ductus stenting and SPS. However, the ratio of the left to the right PA index [0.69 (0.45-0.95) vs 0.86 (0.51-0.84), P = 0.015] was higher in patients who reached stage II with surgical shunt physiology, compared with patients with ductus stent physiology.

Conclusions: After initial ductus stenting in infants with univentricular heart, survival is comparable and post-procedural recovery shorter, but more acute stent dysfunctions and lower development of left PA are observed, compared to acute shunt dysfunctions. The less invasive procedure and shorter hospital stay are at the expense of more stent reinterventions.

Keywords: Bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt; Ductus stent; Pulmonary artery; Single ventricle; Systemic-to-pulmonary shunt.