Arterial switch operation. Surgical solutions to complex problems.

The arterial switch operation is appropriate treatment for most forms of transposition of the great arteries. In this review we analyze indications, techniques, and outcome for various subsets of patients with transposition of the great arteries, including those with an intact septum beyond 21 days of age, intramural coronary arteries, aortic arch obstruction, the Taussig-Bing anomaly, discordant (corrected) transposition, transposition of the great arteries with left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, and univentricular hearts with transposition of the great arteries and subaortic stenosis.