[Open-heart surgery during deep hypothermia in infancy].

A total of 47 infants (2,7 to 9,6 kg in weight, 3 days to 21 months of age, 89% under one year) underwent early total correction of severe congenital heart defects in profound hypothermia of about 22degreesC and circulatory arrest (11 to 64 minutes). 8 patients were operated upon without extracorporeal circulation (ECC) (mortality 63%). 37 infants were additionally cooled and rewarmed with ECC (mortality 22%). The most common diagnosis were: Total atrioventricular canal (11), aortic stenosis with and without combined lesions (8), tetralogy of Fallot (7), ventricular septum defect (7) and transposition of the great arteries (4).