|
Introduction
For the second Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Annual of the Seminars in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, international experts have been solicited to provide reviews of complex topics in pediatric cardiothoracic surgery. The difficult issue of cardiac valve surgery in pediatric patients is assessed by discussions of surgical repair of the common atrioventricular valve in single ventricle and valve repair techniques for patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and Ebstein malformation. Conduits made of autologous pericardium as used in South America are discussed to bring this alternative to allograft conduits to potential wider use. The use of pericardial and synthetic monocusp valves and leaflet extension techniques for aortic valve repair as well as the newer techniques of allograft mitral valve replacement and complex valve repairs in children are also discussed by leading experts in these areas. Discussion of truncus arteriosus repairs with nonvalved techniques and the late results of extracardiac Fontan repair add to our information about the long-term results of contemporary cardiac procedures. In addition, the electrophysiologic surgical approaches for arrhythmia after the Fontan procedure are described to help with this complex group of patients that is increasingly requiring late intervention. Controversial areas in which decision making can be difficult are also discussed: topics include the use of new pulsatile assist devices in children, the management of congenital and acquired pulmonary vein stenosis, and the problem of the small left ventricle.
Thomas L. Spray, MD
Guest Editor
SEMINARS IN THORACIC CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY VOL.2, 1999 : p3
© 1999 by W.B. Saunders Company
|
