Selective timing for the arterial switch operation.

BACKGROUND: To determine outcomes for the arterial switch operation individualized according to the underlying anatomy and clinical status.
METHODS: A retrospective review of a consecutive series of infants less than 90 days of age who underwent the arterial switch operation at a single institution.
RESULTS: From July 1993-April 2001, 117 infants underwent an arterial switch operation before 90 days of age. Seventy-five patients (64%) had transposition of the great arteries with intact ventricular septum with the aim of operation before 14 days of age; however, 8 of these patients had delayed presentation (range 15-46 days). Thirty-five patients (30%) had transposition with a ventricular septal defect (30 patients) or double outlet right ventricle (5 patients) and normal arch anatomy and were repaired within the first 90 days of life depending on the severity of heart failure at a median of 12 days of age (range 3-83 days). Seven patients (6%) had associated aortic coarctation (5 patients) or interrupted aortic arch (2 patients). One patient died during hospitalization (0.85% hospital mortality) and one patient died from noncardiac causes during a median follow-up of 35 months (1.7% total mortality). Four patients required intervention during follow-up (3.4%) for new aortic coarctation (2 patients), supravalvar pulmonic stenosis (1 patient), or right hemi-diaphragm paralysis (1 patient).
CONCLUSIONS: Individualized timing for the arterial switch operation within the first ninety days of life produces excellent survival rates for all types of transposition physiology with the expectation of a satisfactory course during follow-up.