[Anatomic correction of transposition of the great vessels with interventricular communication. A series of 24 consecutive operations].

The results of surgical correction at arterial level in 24 cases of transposition of the great arteries with ventricular septal defect are reported. The majority of children (19/24) had undergone previous pulmonary artery bonding between the ages of fifteen days and 3 months (average 1,5 months). Surgical correction was performed on average 14 months later. This consisted of repair of the ventricular septal defect and arterial shift to reestablish ventriculoarterial concordance with reimplantation of the coronary arteries. In the last 9 cases no prosthetic materials were used on the right outflow tract. The operative mortality was 9/24 (6 of the first 12, and 3 of the last 12 cases). The cause of death was due to associated lesions, congenital (coarctation of the aorta, mitral valve malformation), or iatrogenic related to previous surgery (stenosis of the right ventricular infundibulum). Left ventricular failure was common despite preparation with pulmonary artery banding and merited systematic treatment mainly with arterial vasodilator therapy and prolonged ventilatory assistance. The surviving children are asymptomatic without treatment. Control catheter studies did not show any significant abnormality except in one case of pulmonary hypertension. The exceptional quality of these results, the absence of prosthetic material and the hope of reducing avoidable mortality justify this approach to surgical cure of the malformation. Preparation by pulmonary artery banding and the use of this method in "simple" forms of transposition are questions which remain open to discussion.