D-Transposition of the Great Arteries: A New Era in Cardiology

Before the 1950s, D-transposition of the great arteries was associated with nearly 90% mortality within the first year of life. The Mustard and Senning procedures resulted in a significant increase in the lifespan of these patients but with notable long-term complications, including arrhythmias, sinus node dysfunction, chronotropic incompetence, and right ventricular systolic dysfunction. The arterial switch operation (first described by Adib Jatene) initially resulted in nearly universal death. However, the use of coronary buttons for coronary artery translocation has improved operative survival dramatically. It is now considered the treatment of choice in patients amendable to the arterial switch operation. Considered an anatomic repair, resulting in concordant ventriculoarterial connections and a systemic left ventricle, the arterial switch operation reduces the incidence of ventricular dysfunction. However, it is also associated with long-term complications, including aortic root dilatation, aortic valve regurgitation, right ventricular outflow tract obstructions, coronary artery stenosis/ compression, and branch pulmonary artery stenosis.