title: Arterial switch operation for transposition of the great arteries: experience from 2000-2002 in Taiwan.
abstract: Arterial switch operation (ASO) is considered the procedure of choice for transposition of great arteries (TGA). The results and long-term prognosis improved with recent advances in perioperative management. We herein analyze the clinical outcome of patients undergoing ASO at our institution during the past 3 years. From 2000 to 2002, 44 patients (30 male and 14 female) of TGA received ASO. Age at operation varied from 4 days to 6.6 years (median 14 days) with body weight ranged from 2.25 kg to 18.1 kg (median 3.3 kg). Palliative procedure prior to ASO was performed in 8 patients (18.8%). Normal coronary artery pattern was found in 28 patients (63.6%). The early mortality was 11% (5/44). Only associated ventricular septal defect (VSD) was a significant predictor for operative mortality (p=0.012). With a follow-up ranged from 11 to 44 months, the gradient of neo-pulmonary artery stenosis was 16.5 +/- 18.2 mmHg. Four patients (10%) received balloon dilatation and the other three (7.7%) underwent reoperation. The gradient of neo-aortic stenosis was 16.5 +/- 18.2 mmHg that needed to be dilated in three patients (7.7%). The probability free from reintervention was 73% at the 3rd postoperative year. One patient had moderate degree of pulmonary valve regurgitation and six had moderate neo-aortic valve regurgitation. In conclusion, the ASO can be performed in infants with satisfactory results, even in those with a body weight less than 2.5 kg. Only associated VSD was shown to be a risk factor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Kun-Lang
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Min-Tai
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: En-Ting
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Frank Li
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Chung-I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Ing-Sh
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Yih-Sharng
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jou-Kou
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Mei-Hwan
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D013504:Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006345:Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D016019:Survival Analysis; D015996:Survival Rate; D013624:Taiwan; D014188:Transposition of Great Vessels / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome