Fig. 5.1
Surgical outcomes for adults with ASD are excellent. Complications are mostly owing to perioperative arrhythmias and occasional post-pericardiotomy syndrome with effusions. Patients with elevated pulmonary hypertension, associated coronary artery disease, and ventricular dysfunction are at further risk and warrant careful assessment and appropriate combined therapy as indicated.
5.2 Surgical Closure of Superior Caval Vein Sinus Venosus Atrial Septal Defect in Association with Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return
The important factor that governs surgical closure of a superior caval vein (SCV) SV-ASD is determined by the entrance point of the right anomalous pulmonary venous return into the SCV. The more cephalad the entry of the anomalous pulmonary veins into the SCV, the more difficult the operation and higher the incidence of atrial arrhythmias owing to potential injury to the sinoatrial node.
5.3 Closure of Sinus Venosus Atrial Septal Defect with High Entry of the Anomalous Pulmonary Veins into the Superior Caval Vein: The Warden Procedure
The challenges of SV-ASD repair are heightened by more cephalad entry of the anomalous pulmonary veins into the SCV. Some surgeons have noted excellent results with baffling of the anomalous veins using a pericardial patch into the ASD and creating a larger systemic venous pathway for the SCV with a caval incision and another pericardial patch, the so-called two-patch technique. Surgeons who use this technique maintain that the sinoatrial node can be spared if the SCV incision and patching are performed lateral to the node, thereby ensuring unobstructed flow of both the systemic and pulmonary venous pathways. The more cephalad the pulmonary venous entry on the SCV, however, the greater the chance of obstructive and arrhythmia complications. This is the reason why the Warden procedure was introduced.