title: A suggested technique for "orthotopic" heart transplantation in a patient with situs inversus.
abstract: We describe a technique for "orthotopic" heart transplantation in a patient with situs inversus. The left atrial, aortic, and pulmonary artery anastomoses were performed directly, in the usual manner. The recipient's right atrium was converted into a tunnel, and the donor's right atrium was left intact. Anastomoses were therefore required between the 2 inferior venae cavae (by direct end-to-end anastomosis) and the 2 superior venae cavae (necessitating the insertion of a Dacron-graft). We suggest that even simpler techniques, perhaps not requiring the use of an artificial vascular prosthesis, are possible.
authors.affiliation: Oklahoma Transplantation Institute, Baptist Medical Center, Oklahoma City 73112.
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Chaffin
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zuhdi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000601:surgery*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D012857:Situs Inversus