title: [Risk factors associated with arterial switch operation for transposition of the great arteries].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study was undertaken to determine the risk factors for early mortality following an arterial switch operation.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 1994 through October 2003, 78 pediatric patients underwent surgical repair. Simple transposition was present in 48 patients (61.5%), 29 (37.2%) had an associated ventricular septal defect, and one had a Taussig-Bing anomaly. The risk factors analyzed were: the patient's age and weight at the time of the intervention, repair of a coexisting ventricular septal defect, coronary artery anatomical pattern, duration of cardiopulmonary bypass, duration of aortic cross-clamping, and duration of circulatory arrest. All factors were evaluated for strength of association with the duration of mechanical ventilation, the length of intensive care unit stay, and mortality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, the early mortality rate was 9% (7/78). Some 14 patients (17.9%) underwent simultaneous repair of a ventricular septal defect. Patients with an intramural coronary artery (n=3, 3.8%) or a single coronary ostium (n=5, 6.4%) were the only ones who had a significant (P<.05) mortality risk, at 50% (4/8). Circulatory arrest was implemented in 53 (68%) patients. There were significant correlations between the duration of circulatory arrest and the ventilator support time (r=0.3, P<.05) and the duration of stay in the intensive care unit (r=0.3, P<.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The risk of early death was increased when more complex coronary artery anatomical variants were present. As the period of circulatory arrest lengthened, the mechanical ventilation time and duration of intensive care unit stay increased.
authors: Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos Pediátricos, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, Hospital Infantil, Sevilla, Spain. garcier@wanadoo.es
authors: Juan A
authors: JA
authors: García Hernández
authors: Cristina
authors: C
authors: Montero Valladares
authors: Adoración I
authors: AI
authors: Martínez López
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Romero Parreño
authors: Josefina
authors: J
authors: Grueso Montero
authors: Mauro
authors: M
authors: Gil-Fournier Carazo
authors: Aurelio
authors: A
authors: Cayuela Domínguez
authors: Mercedes
authors: M
authors: Loscertales Abril
authors: Aníbal
authors: A
authors: Tovaruela Santos
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001835:Body Weight; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D004310:Double Outlet Right Ventricle / Q000150:complications; D006324:Heart Arrest, Induced; D006345:Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007902:Length of Stay; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014188:Transposition of Great Vessels / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*