Clinical study: Pediatric cardiology
Pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum: Range of morphology in a population-based study

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Abstract

Objectives

We describe the morphologic variability in pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum (PAIVS) within a population-based study.

Background

An uncommon disease, PAIVS shows considerable morphologic heterogeneity. Clinical reports, based mostly on small samples of patients, may not reflect the true spectrum of pathology of this condition. We have studied the entire range of morphology in a prospective population-based study of patients over a five-year period (1991 to 1995).

Methods

As part of the United Kingdom and Ireland Collaborative Study of PAIVS, all 18 pediatric cardiac centers were visited by a single investigator. Morphologic features of each case were determined by direct review of the echocardiograms and angiocardiograms, from surgical and autopsy reports, and by review of pathology specimens where available.

Results

Among 183 live-born infants, atresia was valvar (membranous) in 74.7% and muscular in 25.3%. Muscular obliteration of the apical trabecular cavity, and in some cases its infundibulum, resulted in “bipartite” right ventricle (RV) in 33.6%, and a “unipartite” chamber in 7.7%. The remaining 58.7% had “tripartite” morphology. Coronary arterial abnormalities were identified in 45.8%, including arterial stenoses, interruptions and ectasia in 7.6%. Ebstein’s malformation coexisted in 18 patients. Median tricuspid valvar size and RV inlet Z-scores were −5.2 and −5.1, respectively.

Conclusions

This study provides unique data on the diverse pathology of PAIVS in an unselected population. This will help determine if published reports reflect the true spectrum of pathology of the condition.

Abbreviations

CHSS
Congenital Heart Surgeons Study
CI
confidence interval
ECG
electrocardiogram
LAD
left anterior descending coronary artery
LV
left ventricle
PAIVS
pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum
RV
right ventricle/ventricular
TV
tricuspid valve
VSD
ventricular septal defect

Cited by (0)

This project and Dr. Daubeney were supported by the Wessex Cardiac Trust, Wessex Cardiothoracic Centre, Southampton, United Kingdom. Professor Anderson was supported by the Joseph Levy Foundation and the British Heart Foundation.