Cannulation Through the Left Atrial Appendage Facilitates Mustard's Operation for Transposition of the Great Arteries

Abstract

In a patient with transposition of the great vessels and juxtaposition of the atrial appendages, improved exposure for placement of Mustard's interatrial baffle was gained by inserting the superior vena caval catheter into the juxtaposed right atrial appendage. In 3 subsequent patients with normal atrial appendages the left atrial appendage was used for introduction of this catheter, which was then guided across the atrial septal defect into the superior vena cava. Advantages of this method over conventional cannulation are discussed.