Correction of transposition of the great arteries in infants under surface-induced deep hypothermia

Thirty-five infants with transposition of the great arteries underwent primary surgical repair. There were 2 deaths in the 20 infants with uncomplicated transposition of the great arteries and 5 deaths among the 15 infants with complex transposition. Patients with pulmonary vascular disease and an intact ventricular septum present a higher risk, but it is our policy to repair the defect in these patients since normal hemodynamics and full oxygen saturations following correction protect them against cerebrovascular accidents.