title: Novel approach for orthotopic heart transplantation in visceroatrial situs inversus.
abstract: Orthotopic heart transplantation was performed successfully in a 7-year-old girl with visceroatrial situs inversus. Creation of two autologous left-sided atrial tissue baffles tunneled the left superior vena cava and inferior vena cava to the right of the pulmonary veins. The reconstructed caval tunnels remain widely patent more than 4 years after transplantation. The ability of autologous tissue to grow with the patient has distinct advantages in the pediatric transplant population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Michler
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Sandhu
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D012857:Situs Inversus / Q000601:surgery*; D014654:Vascular Patency; D014684:Venae Cavae