The modified Norwood procedure for first-stage palliation of hypoplastic left heart syndrome is possible in the majority of patients without the use of exogenous materials and does not result in an increased incidence of neoaortic arch obstruction. Repair of the aorta without patch supplementation may improve the potential for long-term growth of the new aorta.

Intrinsic obstruction (endocardial sclerosis or thickening) is associated with worse prognosis and earlier re-intervention than extrinsic (anatomical) obstruction. We advocate an early, aggressive approach to the management of patients with TAPVC, especially in the presence of PVS. This complication is most appropriately managed by a combination of re-operation and repeated balloon dilation.

An elevated end-diastolic pressure in pressure-overloaded, but not volume-overloaded, ventricles was related to increased myocardial stiffness. The greater stiffness of pressure-overloaded compared with volume-overloaded myocardium was due to the higher stiffness of both the extracellular matrix and myocytes. The transition from normal to very-low stiffness myocytes may mark irreversible dilatation.