Pulmonary artery banding is not contraindicated in double inlet left ventricle with transposition and aortic arch obstruction.

It has been widely stated that pulmonary artery banding (PAB) is contraindicated in the setting of double inlet left ventricle with transposition of the great vessels (DILV/TGA), especially if aortic arch obstruction is present. We postulated that the poor results for this condition reflect the tendency to leave the band in place long-term without early recognition and relief of subaortic stenosis (SAS). Short-term PAB with early relief of SAS remains an attractive option compared to a neonatal "Norwood" strategy. We reviewed our results applying this approach to 18 consecutive infants presenting since 1980 with DILV/TGA and an obstructive anomaly of the aortic arch (coarctation 16, interruption or atresia 2). Four of the infants (22%) were considered to have important SAS at presentation. One underwent neonatal aortopulmonary connection and died. The remaining 17 patients underwent arch repair with PAB (median age 1.4 weeks; range 2 days-22 weeks) with one early death. The 16 survivors have been followed for 5.6 +/- 3.7 years. All but one ultimately developed SAS. Relief of SAS was performed in 15 patients (median age 8 months) using a proximal aortopulmonary anastomosis. There were two early deaths, and one late death. Thirteen of the 18 patients (72%) are alive and well, and 12 have achieved Fontan repair or bidirectional superior cavopulmonary anastomosis (BCPA) with persistent relief of SAS. Most patients with DILV/TGA and aortic arch obstruction will tolerate temporary PAB with adequate protection of the pulmonary vascular bed. Our current approach (in the absence of severe SAS at presentation) is PAB at the time of arch repair, followed by careful surveillance for, and early relief of, SAS combined with BCPA in infancy.