Anatomic repair of transposition of the great arteries or arterial switch operation. Report of 62 cases

Between January 1990 and September 2003, 62 patients underwent anatomic repair of a transposition of the great arteries. Mean operative age is 40 days. Transposition of the great arteries was simple in 38 cases and associated to a large ventricular septal defect in 24 cases. 44 patients have had an atrial septostomy of Rashkind and 45 an infusion of prostaglandin E 1.5 patients with simple transposition of the great arteries have had left ventricular retraining before arteriel switch. In association to arterial switch, were performed closure of ventricular septal defect in 24 cases, cure of coarctation of the aorta in 4 cases and cure of an abnormal partial pulmonary venous return in 1 case. Early mortality was 6,45%. After a mean follow up of 3 years, one patient died suddenly (late mortality is 1.72%) and one patient had to have 2 reoperations. Results of anatomic repair are now excellent. Late mortality is essentially related to coronary complications so that a careful follow-up is mandatory.