Modified Starnes Procedure With Patch Occlusion of the Main Pulmonary Artery and Other Technical Modifications to Facilitate Subsequent Biventricular Repair of Ebstein Anomaly

The Starnes procedure, introduced in 1991, has been a valuable advancement in the surgical treatment of critically ill neonates with Ebstein's anomaly (EA). However, it used to be followed by the single ventricle pathway, which presents long-term outcome limitations. In 2019, this management concept was modified by taking down the Starnes procedure and performing the Cone repair of the tricuspid valve, which resulted in a biventricular reconstruction. This approach rehabilitates the right ventricle, likely improving the patients' long-term outcomes. However, it requires modifications in the classical Starnes operation and observing certain surgical details. In cases of circular shunt, we use a patch to occlude the pulmonary artery instead of dividing and oversewing it, simplifying the succeeding pulmonary artery reconstruction. Regarding the tricuspid valve we use a PTFE fenestrated patch placed in a supra-valvar position, preserving the underneath valve integrity, facilitating the tricuspid valve repair, and decreasing the possibility of heart block.