Midterm results of arterial switch operation in older patients with severe pulmonary hypertension.

Background. It is widely accepted that patients older than 6 months with dextrotransposition of the great arteries and nonrestrictive ventricular septal defect or Taussig-Bing anomaly and severe pulmonary hypertension usually are not candidates for an arterial switch operation or even repair. This study aimed to evaluate the midterm results of the arterial switch operation in these selected patients. Methods. The records of 86 patients older than 6 months with dextrotransposition of the great arteries and nonrestrictive ventricular septal defect or Taussig-Bing anomaly and severe pulmonary hypertension undergoing the arterial switch operation at our institution from 2000 to 2008 were reviewed retrospectively. Eighty survivors were followed. Results. There were 6 hospital deaths (7.0%, 95% confidence interval, 1.6% to 12.4%). From 2006 to 2008, 46 were operated without deaths occurring. The median duration of follow-up was 42 months. Two late deaths occurred. Latest follow-up data showed that 2.8% of survivors were in New York Heart Association class II and 97.2% in class I. Conclusions. Midterm results of the arterial switch operation for patients older than 6 months with dextrotransposition of the great arteries and nonrestrictive ventricular septal defect or Taussig-Bing anomaly and severe pulmonary hypertension are excellent in the current era. (Ann Thorac Surg 2010;90:848-55) (C) 2010 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons