Baffle obstruction following the Mustard operation: cause and treatment.

Baffle obstruction developed in 11 patients after they had undergone the Mustard procedure. Eight of them required operative revision. The cause of the baffle obstruction seemed to be related to patient age (less than 1 year) and to the use of Dacron for the baffle but not to the shape of the baffle. A technique of revision that involves widely opening the previously placed baffle and enlarging it and the atriotomy with polytetrafluoroethylene was employed for the last 6 patients. All 5 survivors of this operation had good long-term results without recurrence.