Arterial switch operation after left ventricular retraining in the adult.

Retraining the morphological left ventricle in transposition of the great arteries has been successfully reported in infancy, while older age seems to be a contraindication. A 23-year-old woman with ¿S,D,D¿ transposition of the great arteries and ventricular septal defect developed severe right systemic ventricular dysfunction 22 years after Mustard procedure and ventricular septal defect closure. Hemodynamic investigation revealed moderate pulmonary hypertension and preserved left ventricular function. A pulmonary artery band was applied to obtain a left-right ventricular pressure ratio of 0.91. Her postoperative course was characterized by biventricular failure, treated effectively with inotropic support. Six months later, she underwent a Mustard baffle takedown and arterial switch procedure. Her postoperative course was uneventful. She was discharged home on postoperative day 15. At 24-months follow-up, she is in excellent clinical condition; echocardiographic evaluation shows good left ventricular function (ejection fraction: 0.69) with left ventricular volume within normal limits (70 ml/m2). Our experience demonstrates that, despite adult age, a staged arterial switch operation can be performed successfully in selected patients when left ventricular function is preserved.