Background: Bi-directional Glenn shunt is a well-established procedure performed as a part of the single ventricle palliation pathway. The Bi-directional connection may also provide definitive palliation in certain patients. A major advantage of the cavopulmonary connection is that it diminishes the extent of the inevitable pulmonary recirculation, thereby resulting in a decrease in the workload of the functionally single ventricle.
Objective: To compare the short-term outcome of Glenn operation in patients aged between 3 to 6 months and patients aged 6 months above. Patients and methods: Our study was a retrospective randomized trial, carried out in Cairo University Hospitals, in the period between October 2018 and May 2020. Study Population had been randomized into two groups. Group I: 20 patients who underwent Bi-directional Glenn aged 3 to 6 months & Group II: 20 patients who underwent Bi-directional Glenn aged more than 6 months.
Results: There were significant differences between both groups regarding preoperative evaluation including age, weight, sizes of RPA & LPA and McGoon index. Unbalanced AV canal and DILV are most common diagnoses after tricuspid atresia as explained by their natural incidence in single ventricle diseases. There was significant increase in the O2 saturation in each group. There was insignificant difference between both groups regarding post-operative mortality and morbidity that met with many other similar studies.
Conclusion: This approach had a number of advantages where it eliminates the need for the traditional first-stage procedures, such as systemic arterial shunting and PA banding, which minimizes PA manipulation and subsequent distortion. The reduction in the number of procedures will also have a favorable impact on cost.