Outcome following, and impact of, prenatal identification of the candidates for the Norwood procedure.

Objectives: Our study evaluates hospital survival following prenatal identification of candidates for the Norwood procedure, and the impact of prenatal diagnosis on survival, preoperative stability, and postoperative morbidity.

Methods: We reviewed records of all patients who were identified prenatally as candidates for the Norwood procedure, and compared them to all postnatally diagnosed patients who underwent the Norwood procedure between August 1995 and May 2002.

Results: Of the 98 patients studied, 45 (46%) were diagnosed prenatally.