Single Ventricle Palliation in a Developing Sub-Saharan African Country: What Should be Improved?

World J Pediatr Congenit Heart Surg. 2019 Mar;10(2):164-170. doi: 10.1177/2150135118822671.

Abstract

Introduction: Single ventricle physiology management is challenging, especially in low-income countries.

Objective: To report the palliation outcomes of single ventricle patients in a developing African country.

Methods: We retrospectively studied 83 consecutive patients subjected to single ventricle palliation in a single center between March 2011 and December 2017. Preoperative data, surgical factors, postoperative results, and survival outcomes were analyzed. The patients were divided by palliation stage: I (pulmonary artery banding [PAB] or Blalock-Taussig shunt [BTS]), II (Glenn procedure), or III (Fontan procedure).

Results: Of the 83 patients who underwent palliation (stages I-III), 38 deaths were observed (31 after stage I, six after stage II, and one after stage III) for an overall mortality of 45.7%. The main causes of operative mortality were multiple organ dysfunction due to sepsis, shunt occlusion, and cardiogenic shock. Twenty-eight survivors were lost to follow-up (22 after stage I, six after stage II). Thirteen stage II survivors are still waiting for stage III. The mean follow-up was 366 ± 369 days. Five-year survival was 28.4 % for PAB and 30.1% for BTS, while that for stage II and III was 49.8% and 57.1%, respectively. Age (hazard ratio, 0.61; 95% confidence interval: 0.47-0.7; P = .000) and weight at surgery (hazard ratio, 0.45; 95% confidence interval: 0.31-0.64; P = .002) impacted survival.

Conclusion: A high-mortality rate was observed in this initial experience, mainly in stage I patients. A large number of patients were lost to follow-up. A task force to improve outcomes is urgently required.

Keywords: Blalock–Taussig shunt; Fontan procedure; Glenn procedure; pulmonary artery banding; single ventricle.

MeSH terms

  • Angola
  • Blalock-Taussig Procedure*
  • Female
  • Fontan Procedure*
  • Heart Defects, Congenital / mortality
  • Heart Defects, Congenital / surgery*
  • Heart Ventricles / abnormalities*
  • Heart Ventricles / surgery
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  • Male
  • Palliative Care / methods
  • Pulmonary Artery / surgery*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Treatment Outcome