Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) is a spectrum of cardiac malformations that has a high morbidity and mortality. HLHS is comprised of underdeveloped left sided heart structures, characterized by aortic atresia or severe stenosis, which results in a small left ventricle and a hypoplastic, sometimes diminutive ascending aorta [1]. Without surgical intervention, one-month mortality approaches 95% [2].

The Norwood procedure is one of the most technically challenging surgical interventions and remains a high risk operation [3]. The arch reconstruction technique in such patients can be quite demanding, and achieving an adequate three dimensional conformation of all components (ascending aorta, aortic arch, proximal descending aorta and pulmonary root), coupled to the homograft patch can be difficult. Furthermore, the aortic reconstruction impacts not only coronary perfusion, but the adequacy of the distal arch and the neo-aortic valve as well. Because of this, we describe a simple, reproducible technique that simplifies the surgical approach to the diminutive aorta in patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

Following a median sternotomy, cardiopulmonary bypass is instituted with a single arterial cannula placed into the brachiocephalic artery, through a 3.5 mm Gore-Tex tube graft (Gore-Tex; W. L. Gore and Associates, Flagstaff, AZ), and a single venous cannula into the right atrium through the appendage. Pulmonary blood flow is controlled by temporary occlusion of the pulmonary artery branches. While cooling down to 18˚C, the aorta and main pulmonary artery (MPA) are fully mobilized.

Under standard low-flow regional perfusion, the neck vessels are temporarily occluded; an antegrade dose of cardioplegia is administered through the arterial cannula itself and the ductus arteriosus is divided. Then, the atrial septum is resected, through the right atrial appendage cannulation site, leaving an unrestrictive atrial septal defect.

The MPA is transected at the bifurcation, followed by division of the aorta just above the level of the MPA root. The aortic ductal stump is then amputated and the aorta is opened along the inner curvature. When present, the coarctation shelf is resected and an anastomosis along the greater curvature of the descending aorta (with or without interdigitation) is performed. A suitable homograft triangular patch is then fashioned and used to reconstruct the aortic arch (Figures 1(b) and (c)). Once complete, the arch reconstruction creates a tubular, symmetrical and funnel-shaped structure (Figure 1(d)).

Following the arch reconstruction, the proximal aortocoronary to pulmonary anastomosis is performed, using vertical counter-incisions in both great vessels (Figure 1(d)). Of note, the aortocoronary stump should be taller

than the pulmonary root, this will diminish the wall tension when the arch is filled with pressured blood, keeping the aortocoronary ostium patent.

The new systemic outlet reconstruction is completed by fashioning an end-to-end aortic anastomosis between the aorto-pulmonary root to the distal augmented arch (Figure 1(e)). An important consideration is that the proximal and distal ascending aorta tissue does not necessaryily have to match each other, avoiding torsion on the aortopulmonary anastomosis, and the potential for coronary insufficiency.

Pulmonary blood flow is reconstituted according to the surgeon’s preference (modified Blalock-Taussig shunt or a right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduit).

The Norwood procedure remains to be a technical challenge. There are several modifications of the original procedure, including the transection of the ascending aorta introduced by van Son, Mosca and Thistlewaiste to reconstruct the systemic outlet in ventriculoarterial discordance and hypoplastic aorta [4-6]. These techniques, as the one we describe in normally related great vessels for a diminutive ascending aorta, concomitant aortic arch hypoplasia with or without coarctation, avoid a spiraling incision of the aorta from the inner curvature of the aortic arch to the medial aspect of the ascending aorta, reducing the risk of torsion of the aortic root with its inherent risks of obstruction of the coronary ostia and aortic or pulmonary valve regurgitation.

Coarctation excision reduces the incidence of late arch obstruction, and we routinely excise the coarctation shelf [7]. Because recoarctation and acute arch angles increase the wall shear stress and energy loss, a uniform and unobstructed anatomic result may reduce the workload on the single ventricle [8].

We have found that this modification of the arch reconstruction within the Norwood procedure, by creating two tubes, which result in an end to end aortic anastomosis, simplifies the procedure, makes it reproducible and creates a smooth neoaortic arch.