Late functional deterioration after atrial correction for transposition of the great arteries

Late anatomic and functional results were evaluated in 220 consecutive survivors who underwent surgery in 1964-1984 for atrial correction of transposition of the great arteries (TGA). Actuarial survival was 87% at 10 years and 83% at 20 years and was higher in patients with simple than in those with complex TGA (92% vs. 84% at 10 years). Although 83% of simple TGA and 78% of complex TGA survivors belong to the oligosymptomatic or asymptomatic group, failure of the systemic ventricle occurred in 17 (7.7%) patients. This failure was more common in patients with complex than in those with simple TGA (12.1% vs. 4.1%, p less than 0.05); actuarial incidence of such failure was 3% at 5 years and 11% at 15 years, and it caused 10 of 25 (40%) of late deaths. Late dysrhythmias necessitating pacemaker implantation had an incidence of 9.8% at 10 years. Reoperations were performed in 20 (9.1%) patients, with 12 of 23 (52%) reoperations occurring in the first 2 years after correction. Stenosis of caval inflow (eight patients), or residual atrial or ventricular septal defects (eight patients) were the most common causes of reoperation. Systemic atrioventricular valve incompetence necessitating surgery occurred in only three patients. Atrial correction gives good late results, but late functional deterioration occurs in some patients.