Anatomic correction of simple transposition of the great arteries in 50 neonates

From April 1984 to January 1986, anatomic surgical correction was performed in 50 newborn (2- to 23-day-old, mean 8 +/- 5 [SD]) infants with simple transposition of the great arteries. Before surgery, balloon atrial septostomy was performed in all patients, prostaglandin E1 was infused in 42, and left ventricular shape on a two-dimensional echocardiogram was considered "satisfactory" in 48. Surgery was performed in patients on cardiopulmonary bypass without cardiac arrest; the pulmonary artery was reconstructed by end-to-end anastomosis according to Lecompte's maneuver with a pericardial patch. In all but one patient coronary artery transfer was possible regardless of the distribution of these vessels. There were eight early deaths (16%), but only four (10%) of the last 41 patients treated died. There was one late death (2%) due to a secondary myocardial infarction caused by compression of the left coronary artery. Reoperation was successfully performed in two patients for supravalvar pulmonary artery stenosis. The only late medical complication was a transient episode of myocardial ischemia 6 months after surgery. The 41 late survivors were in excellent condition, were in sinus rhythm, and had a normal left ventricle 1 to 22 months after surgery (mean 7.2 +/- 5.4 [SD]). Aortic growth was normal; pulmonary artery supravalvar stenosis occurred in six patients (mild in four). We conclude that anatomic correction can be applied successfully in the first few days of life in newborns with simple transposition of the great arteries, regardless of coronary distribution.