Ventricular Septation of the Double-Inlet Ventricle: Over Three Decades of Follow-Up

There is renewed interest in septation of the double-inlet ventricle as an alternative to Fontan palliation. We examined our septation experience with over 30 years of follow-up. We retrospectively reviewed patients with double-inlet ventricle from 1990 to 2011. Patients with two adequate atrioventricular valves, a volume-overloaded ventricle, and no significant subaortic obstruction were septation candidates. Of 98 double-inlet ventricle patients, 9 (9.2%) underwent attempted septation via a one-stage (n = 2, 22.2%) or two-stage (n = 7, 77.8%) approach. Ages at primary septation were 7.5 and 20.2 months. In the staged group, median age at the first and second stage was 8.3 months [range 4.1-14.7] and 22.4 months [range 11.4-195.7], respectively. There were no operative mortalities. Median follow-up was 18.8 years [range 0.4-32.9] and 30-year transplant-free survival was 77.8% +/- 13.9%. Both single stage patients are alive and in sinus rhythm; 1 underwent bilateral outflow tract obstruction repair 27 years later. Of 7 patients planned for two-stage septation, there was 1 interval mortality and 1 deferred the second stage. Five patients underwent the second stage; 1 required early reintervention for a residual neo-septal defect and 1 underwent right atrioventricular valve replacement 28 years later. Three patients required a pacemaker preoperatively (n = 1) or after partial septation (n = 2). At latest follow-up, 7 patients have normal biventricular function and no significant valvulopathy. All remain NYHA functional class I. Select double-inlet ventricles may be septated with excellent long-term outcomes. Reconsideration of this strategy is warranted to avoid the sequelae of Fontan circulation.