Postoperative hemolysis and its prevention in corrective surgery of truncus arteriosus

Two cases of truncus arteriosus type I associated with truncal valve insufficiency were operated upon with the Rastelli's procedure. The first case of 3-year-old boy died from severe hemolysis which was caused by the regurgitant jet from the truncal valve running against the rough-surfaced Dacron patch for the VSD. The second case of 12-month-old girl was treated with a Dacron patch lined with an autologous pericardial pedicle. Her postoperative course was uneventful. The authors discuss the potential risk and prevention of postoperative hemolysis in corrective surgery of the truncus arteriosus with truncal valve insufficiency.