ABSTRACT
In the period March 1992 to January 1993, ten patients with transposition of great arteries (TGV) whose age ranged from 9 days to 8 months and body weight 3.2 to 7.2 kg were operated on using the arterial switch. A single-stage anatomic correction was made in 2 patients with patent arterial duct, 4 with ventricular septal defect (VSD), one with multiple VSD. Three patients with common TGA underwent correction in 2 stages: arterial switch followed prior constriction of the pulmonary artery switch followed prior constriction of the pulmonary artery and subclavian-pulmonary anastomosis. In all cases of single VSD, it was closed with a flap made from the Gore-Tex material. In the whole series of operations, 2 patients died: one being on the operating table due to anesthesiological errors, the other due to coronary blood flow disorder 3 hours after surgery. Six of the 8 discharged patients were followed 3-8 months after surgery. Two patients needed digitalis. No sign of myocardial ischemia was detected in antibody. All the patients were found to have normal left ventricular pump function. These surgeries are the first in our country and so our little experience may be of interest for national specialists.
Subject(s)
Transposition of Great Vessels/surgery , Arteries/surgery , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
Causes of mortality were analysed in a group of 122 patients with congenital heart disease in their first year of life following conservative management, closed surgery and operations under assisted circulation. Fatal outcomes were predetermined by a severe congenital defect in 18.2% of the patients, while in the remaining cases they could basically have been prevented by means of a timely primary diagnosis and referral to a specialized clinical institution, accurate topical diagnosis, correct assessment of the severity of the patients' condition and improved post-operative intensive care.
