Abstract
PURPOSE: Damage to the cardiac conduction system is a major risk of congenital cardiac surgery. Localization of the conduction system is commonly based on anatomic landmarks, which are variable in congenital heart diseases. We introduce a novel technique for identification of conduction tissue regions based on real-time fiberoptic confocal microscopy. DESCRIPTION: We developed a fiberoptic confocal microscopy-based technique to document conduction tissue regions and deployed it in pediatric patients undergoing repair of common congenital heart defects. The technique applies clockface schematics for intraoperative documentation of the location of conduction tissue regions. EVALUATION: We created clockface schematics for 11 patients with ventricular septal defects, 6 with tetralogy of Fallot, and 10 with atrioventricular canal defects. The approach revealed substantial variability in the location of the conduction system in hearts with congenital defects. The clockface schematics were used to create plans for subsequent surgical repair. CONCLUSIONS: The clockface schematic provides a reliable fiducial system to document and communicate variability of conduction tissue regions in the heart and applies this information for decision-making during congenital cardiac surgery.