title: Exercise Capacity Long-Term after Arterial Switch Operation for Transposition of the Great Arteries.
abstract: Transposition of the great arteries (TGA) is a congenital heart defect successfully corrected through arterial switch operation (ASO). Although this technique had significant impact in improving survival, little is known about the functional capacity of the operated patients long-term after surgery.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare the functional capacity of children with TGA long-term after ASO with that of healthy children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients that performed cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) were included in the study. As a control group, healthy children in evaluation for physical activity that performed CPET during the same period were also enrolled.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-one TGA patients (19 male) were compared with 29 age-matched controls (21 male). Maximum oxygen consumption was higher in the control group (45.47 ± 8.05 vs. 40.52 ± 7.19, P = .017), although within normal limits in both groups (above 90% of predicted value). The heart rate behavior during exercise was different in both groups, with a mean chronotropic index significantly lower in the TGA group (63% ± 14 vs. 81% ± 12, P < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results showed that exercise capacity long-term after ASO in TGA is well preserved although lower than in healthy children what might be explained by the presence of chronotropic incompetence in the TGA group.
authors.affiliation: Heart Hospital, Sirio Sanatorium Association, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Flávia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Samos
authors.affiliation: Heart Hospital, Sirio Sanatorium Association, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fuenmayor
authors.affiliation: Heart Hospital, Sirio Sanatorium Association, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hossri
authors.affiliation: Heart Hospital, Sirio Sanatorium Association, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Patrícia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Elias
authors.affiliation: Heart Hospital, Sirio Sanatorium Association, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Leandro
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ponce
authors.affiliation: Heart Hospital, Sirio Sanatorium Association, São Paulo, Brazil.|Pulmonary Department, Heart Institute, University of Sao Paulo Medical School.
authors.forename: Rogério
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: Heart Hospital, Sirio Sanatorium Association, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ieda
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Jatene
mesh_terms: D000069278:Arterial Switch Operation / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D005080:Exercise Test; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014188:Transposition of Great Vessels / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery
keywords: Arterial Switch Operation; Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test; Exercise Capacity; Transposition of the Great Arteries