[The first experience with A. Jatene's operation in complete transposition of the major vessels in newborn and nursing infants].

The authors analyze their experience gained in the treatment of newborns and infants aged under one with complete transposition of the main vessels; arterial change-over method was employed. Five infants with complete transposition of the main vessels aged 14 to 70 days (27.6 days on an average) weighing 3.2 to 3.9 kg (3.7 kg, on an average) was operated on from January to June, 1992. All the patients presented with D-type complete transposition of the main vessels; interventricular septum was intact in four and defective in one patient. All the operations were performed under conditions of cardiopulmonary bypass with deep hypothermia (17 degrees C). Complete circulation arrest was employed in all the cases. Two of the five patients died, this making hospital mortality 40%. Death was caused by acute cardiac failure which developed in the postperfusion period and was fatal.