Recent experiences with the Mustard procedure for the complete transposition of the great arteries by means of "bypass hypothermia".

Abstract

This paper presents our recent results of the Mustard procedure (intra-artrial baffle operation) for the complete transposition of the great arteries performed in 24 infants and children during the past 6 years at the Tohoku University Hospital. All intracardiac repairs were performed using "bypass hypothermia" (surface-induced deep hypothermia, circulatory arrest, and limited cardiopulmonary bypass). The hospital mortality rate was 8% in patients with simple transposition without pulmonary hypertension (Group I, one death in 12 patients), 50% in patients with ventricular septal defect (VSD) and pulmonary hypertension (Group II, 3 deaths in 6 patients), and 20% in patients with VSD and pulmonary stenosis (Group III, one death in 5 patients). Various types of longstanding dysrhythmia were found in 6 out of 18 long-term survivors, and subsequent pace-maker implantation was necessary in one infant. Postoperative pulmonary venous obstruction occurred in 3 infants, and surgical relief of the obstruction was successfully undertaken in 2 of them. Prevention of postoperative dysrhythmia, pulmonary venous obstruction, and possible brain damage are also discussed.