A comparison of ductal stenting and surgical shunts for infants with duct-dependent pulmonary blood flow; the impact of single versus biventricular repair pathways on outcomes.

Abstract Background: Ductal stenting (DS) is an alternative to the Blalock-Taussig-Thomas Shunt (BTTS) as initial palliation for congenital heart disease with duct dependent pulmonary blood flow (DDBPF). We sought to analyse the impact of intended single ventricle (SV) and biventricular (BiV) repair pathways on the outcome of DS and BTTS in infants with DDPBF. Methods: A single-centre, retrospective comparison of infants with DDPBF who underwent either DS (2012-2022) or BTTS procedures (2013-2017). Primary outcomes included all-cause mortality and risk of unplanned re-intervention. Participants were divided into four groups: 1.SV with DS, 2.SV with BTTS, 3.BiV with DS and 4.BiV with BTTS. Results: Fifty-one DS (SV 45%) and 86 BTTS (SV 49%) procedures were undertaken. For those who had DS, mortality was lower in the BiV compared to SV patients (BiV: 0/28, versus SV: 4/23, P=0.04). Compared to BiV DS, BiV BTTS had a higher risk of combined death or unplanned re-intervention (HR 4.28; CI 1.25-14.60; p=0.02). In SV participants, there was no difference for either primary outcome based on procedure type. DS was associated with shorter intensive care length of stay for SV participants (mean difference 5 days, P=0.01) and shorter intensive care and hospital stay for BiV participants (mean difference 11 days for both outcomes, P=0.001). Conclusions: There is a survival benefit for DS in BiV participants compared with DS in SV and BTTS in BiV participants. Ductal stenting is associated with a shorter intensive care and hospital length of stay.