Yasui procedure is a complex and extensive operation that was first described by Yasui and his colleagues in 1987 on two patients with left ventricle outflow tract obstruction/interrupted aortic arch.Reference Yasui, Kado and Nakano1 It has been also performed for patients with severe aortic stenosis/aortic atresia, hypoplastic or interrupted aortic arch and a well-developed apex-forming left ventricle.Reference Carrillo, Mainwaring and Schaffer2 Yasui procedure constitutes of combination of integrated aortic arch reconstruction, redirection of left ventricle outflow through ventricular septal defect to both semilunar valves and establishment of right ventricle–pulmonary artery connection.Reference Nakano, Kado and Tatewaki3 It can be done as one-stage versus two-stage repair that includes initial modified Norwood procedure followed by Rastelli-type repair.Reference Jacobs, Chin, Rychik, Steven, Nicolson and Norwood4–Reference Rychik, Murdison, Chin and Norwood9 Unlike the single ventricle pathway, Yasui procedure has the advantage of biventricular repair that results in normal serial pulmonary systemic circulation (Qp:Qs = 1:1) with normal saturated blood being ejected in the systemic circulation.Reference Carrillo, Mainwaring and Schaffer2 The overall results of Yasui procedure have been variable with reported operative mortality of 6.7%,Reference Carrillo, Mainwaring and Schaffer2 and actuarial 10-year survival ranging between 78%Reference Ohye, Kagisaki, Lee, Mosca, Goldberg and Bove8 and 87.8%.Reference Nakano, Kado and Tatewaki3 The aim of our study is to describe our experience with Yasui procedure in the current era comparing the overall outcome between patients who had one-stage versus two-stage repair, the need for reintervention and associated major morbidity and mortality.
Materials and methods
We conducted a retrospective study that was approved by institutional review board. We reviewed electronic data and medical charts for all the patients who had Yasui procedure in our center from 2008 to 2020. We divided the patients into two groups, those who had one-stage repair (complete Yasui procedure) and two-stage repair (either Norwood procedure then Rastelli-type repair or aortic arch repair and PA band followed by Yasui procedure, or aortic arch repair then Yasui procedure). We performed statistical analysis for both groups and compared peri-operative characteristics. We determined the need for reintervention by catheterisation or surgery, presence of residual lesions and mid-term outcome of all patients including mortality rate.
Results
During the study period, 20 patients had Yasui procedure. Table 1 demonstrate Patient’s characteristics. Eight patients (40%) had left ventricle outflow tract obstruction /interrupted aortic arch, seven patients (35%) had left ventricle outflow tract obstruction/coarctation of aorta, three patients (15%) had double outlet ventricle (two double outlet right ventricle, one double outlet left ventricle), two patients (10%) had aortic atresia with hypoplastic aortic arch. Table 2 demonstrates patient’s cardiac and echocardiographic characteristics. Table 3 demonstrate operation characteristics in both groups. Two-stage repair was achieved using Norwood procedure followed by Rastelli-type repair in two patients, aortic arch repair and pulmonary artery band then Yasui procedure in two patients and one patient had aortic arch repair then Yasui procedure. In double outlet right ventricle and double outlet left ventricle patients, tunneling ventricular septal defect to one of the semilunar valves was unattainable without creating obstruction, for this reason patients underwent Yasui procedure (Dammus-Kaye-Stansel + Rastelli-type repair).
Patients’ demographic characteristics for one-stage and two-stage repair groups. AA: aortic atresia, CoA: coarctation of aorta, DOLV: double outlet left ventricle, DORV: double outlet right ventricle, IAA: interrupted aortic arch, Kg: kilogram, LVOTO: left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, VSD: ventricular septal defect.
Cardiac and echocardiographic characteristics of all 20 patients who had Yasui procedure. AoV: aortic valve, CoA: coarctation of aorta, DOLV: double outlet left ventricle, DORV: double outlet right ventricle, IAA: interrupted aortic arch, LAR: the ratio of the long axis of the left ventricle to that of the heart, LVOT: left ventricular outflow tract, LVOTO: left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, MV: mitral valve, PM: perimembranous, RSCA: right subclavian artery, VSD: ventricular septal defect.
* AA, DORV and DOLV patients were not included in calculating the mean.
Operation characteristics and comparison between one-stage and two-stage repair groups. CHB: complete heart block, CPB: cardiopulmonary bypass, DKS: Dammus-Kaye-Stansel, ICU: intensive care unit, RV-PA: right ventricle to pulmonary artery, VSD: ventricular septal defect.
There was neither peri-operative mortality nor inter-stage death. Two patients of one-stage repair group needed permanent pacemaker insertion for post-operative complete heart block. None of the patients needed extracorporeal membrane oxygenation post-operatively.
The average time of follow-up was 5 years (range: 0.4–10.4 years). Eight out of 20 patients (40%) needed either surgical or catheter re-intervention. Figure 1 demonstrates characteristics of patients who required re-intervention and types of reinterventions needed. The average times for catheter and surgical re-intervention were 1.5 years (0.02–2.8 years) and 3.9 years (1.1–7.4 years), respectively. There was no statistical difference between one and two-stage repair groups in term of re-intervention need.
Discussion
Yasui procedure is recommended for patients with aortic stenosis/hypoplasia or left ventricle outflow tract obstruction associated with ventricular septal defect in whom a simple repair might not be enough to accommodate cardiac output. Kanter et al,Reference Kanter, Kirshbom and Kogon10 applied Yasui procedure when the minimum diameter of left ventricle outflow tract (at the aortic valve or below) is less than 4 mm. Nakano et al,Reference Nakano, Kado and Tatewaki3 considered Yasui procedure when the minimum left ventricle outflow tract diameter is ≤(body weight + 1 mm). All our patients followed Nakano rule for Yasui procedure.
Early study of Yasui procedure was by Ohye et alReference Ohye, Kagisaki, Lee, Mosca, Goldberg and Bove8 who reported 20 patients underwent Yasui procedure (11 patients had one-stage repair and 9 patients had staged repair), actuarial survival for the entire group was 78 ± 10% at 5 years with no difference between one-stage repair (73%) versus staged repair (89%). Another study by Kanter et alReference Kanter, Kirshbom and Kogon10 reported 21 patients who underwent Yasui procedure (15 patients had staged repair and 6 patients had one-stage repair), there was no early mortality, actuarial survival after initial repair was 100% at 1 year and 75% at 5 years. In more recent study by Nakano et alReference Nakano, Kado and Tatewaki3 who reported their experience of Yasui procedure in 17 patients who underwent Yasui procedure (6 patients had one-stage repair and 11 patients had staged repair), there was only one early death, with actuarial survival at 10 years of 87.8%. Our study showed comparable results with no mortality and average follow up duration of 5 years (range: 0.4–10.4 years).
In comparison of one stage repair versus two stage repair, Nakano et alReference Nakano, Kado and Tatewaki3 reported one operative death in one-stage repair group and one late death (non-cardiac) in staged repair group, more stable postoperative course in staged repair group, and similar incidence of reoperation. Kanter et alReference Kanter, Kirshbom and Kogon10 reported comparable rates of mortality and reoperation between one-stage and two-stage repair groups. Similarly, Ohye et alReference Ohye, Kagisaki, Lee, Mosca, Goldberg and Bove8 found no significant difference in survival rate between one-stage and staged repair groups. Gruber et alReference Gruber, Fuller and Cleaver11 reported 21 patients underwent one-stage Yasui procedure with 100% in-hospital survival, 1 late death and 11 patients had interventricular baffle leak, 4 of them needed reintervention. In our study, one-stage and two-stage repair were statistically indifferent in terms of complications rate and re-intervention need. However, we encountered post-operative complete heart block in two patients among one-stage group patients who needed permanent pacemaker implantation.
Our study had many limitations including single centre experience, small number of patients, and medium duration follow up.
Conclusion
Yasui procedure is excellent approach to preserve biventricular function in left ventricle outflow tract obstruction associated with aortic arch lesions and ventricular septal defect. Survival rates for both one and two stage approach were comparable. Re-intervention is unavoidable, and it is needed in almost of 40% of patients within 5 years post initial repair, mainly for right ventricle – pulmonary artery reconstruction.
Acknowledgements
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This research received no specific grant from any funding agency, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.
Conflicts of interest
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