The right auricle tunnel as intercaval tunnel in total cavopulmonary connection may prevent atrial flutter.
- Resource Type
- Article
- Authors
- Waterbolk, T W; Bink-Boelkens, M T; Elzenga, N J; Beaufort-Krol, G C; Ebels, T
- Source
- European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery; December 1998, Vol. 14 Issue: 6 p590-595, 6p
- Subject
- Language
- ISSN
- 10107940; 1873734X
Total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC) is a routine operation for palliation of children with cardiac anomalies in whom biventricular repair is impossible. The original technique consists of the creation of a semi-prosthetic intercaval tunnel. A substantial proportion of these patients develop atrial flutter. We developed a technique for creating an intercaval tunnel that uses the tissue of the right auricle as intercaval tunnel. This technique avoids suture lines in the neighbourhood of the blood supply of the sinus node and leaves the terminal crest free. Since atrial flutter frequently occurs after Mustard and Senning operations in which suture lines are similar as for creating the lateral tunnel in TCPC we postulated that our technique for creating the intercaval tunnel without prosthetic material might prevent atrial flutter.