Sinus venosus atrial septal defects: surgical follow-up.

OBJECTIVE To assess early and later results after surgery for sinus venous atrial septal defects (ASDs). METHODS Forty-four patients of sinus venosus ASDs with anomalous drainage of the right superior pulmonary vein into the superior vena cava, were operated upon between January 1985 and June 1995. Defects were approached by an incision starting from the tip of the right atrial appendage then extending upward along the atrial crest to the medial wall of the superior vena cava. Atrial defects were closed by an autologous pericardial patch. Another pericardial patch was used to enlarge the superior vena cava-right atrial junction to avoid the narrowing of the superior vena cava. RESULTS There was no operative mortality. The total duration of follow-up was 4 +/- 0.7 years. Follow-up of the echocardiographic study at 6 months and 2 years after surgery revealed a normal study. Two patients developed sinus node dysfunction of short duration in the immediate postoperative period. Follow-up of the electrocardiographic study at 6 months and 2 years revealed sinus node dysfunction in one and two patients, respectively.