Reconstruction of the new atrial septum in the Senning operation. New technique.

A new technique incorporating the left atrial appendage for the reconstruction of the new atrial septum is described as a modification of the original Senning operation for transposition of the great arteries. In reconstruction of the atrial septal flap, the balloon septostomy defect is closed by approximating the inverted left atrial appendage to the anterior margin of the flap. This technique completely eliminates the necessity for foreign material in the repair of the new atrial septum of the Senning operation and has been used in 21 patients with good results.