Arterial repair for simple and complex forms of transposition of the great arteries.

Transposition of the great arteries (TGA) has traditionally been repaired by redirection of atrial flow. Concern over the late development of right ventricular and sinus node dysfunction has prompted increased use of the arterial repair. This approach was utilized in 11 patients ranging in age from 7 days to 22 months (mean 5.3 months) and in weight from 2.6 to 12.2 kg (mean 5.1 kg). Five patients had intact ventricular septum and underwent primary repair electively or after poor response to balloon atrial septostomy. A large ventricular septal defect (VSD) was present in 6 patients, one of whom had coarctation of the aorta and one with type B interrupted aortic arch. Pulmonary artery banding was done in 3 of these patients in addition to subclavian artery aortoplasty and primary arch repair. Spontaneous VSD closure occurred in 2 banded patients. All patients had normal coronary artery distribution. Conduits were not used in any repair. There were 2 operative deaths caused by injury to the right coronary artery prior to establishing bypass in one patient and to left ventricular (LV) failure in a patient operated on at 5 months of age with an LV pressure of only one-half systemic level. The 9 surviving patients are well from 4 to 38 months after operation (mean 15 months). No patient has congestive heart failure and 5 receive no medications. Catheterization in 4 patients revealed widely patent coronaries in each. Trivial aortic insufficiency was noted in 1 patient. Each had mild to moderate supravalvar pulmonary stenosis (12 to 51 mmHg). LV function was normal in each case.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)