Repair of Transposition of the Great Arteries with Ventricular Septal Defect by an Arterial Switch Operation

Six patients with transposition of the great arteries and a large ventricular septal defect (VSD) underwent repair by transatrial VSD closure and arterial switching with translocation of the coronary ostia. They ranged in age from 2.0 to 18.8 months, and weighed between 3.2 and 9.9 kg. Each patient survived the perioperative period and was clinically well 7.2 to 15.9 months later. Cardiac catheterization studies done in four patients 0.25 to 7.5 months after surgery showed normal ventricular function in all, a competent aortic valve in two, and trivial and mild aortic valve incompetence in one each. This experience with a small group supports this surgical method as the procedure of choice for most patients with transposition of the great arteries and large VSD.