Long-term clinical outcome of the arterial switch operation is good, and perioperative mortality is now low. Morbidity is dominated by pulmonary stenosis and coronary artery disease, with the potential for lethal arrhythmias.

Prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease minimizes metabolic acidosis in patients with congenital heart disease and may be associated with improved long-term outcome and prevention of cerebral damage among this fragile group of patients, although no significant effect on direct surgical outcome was encountered.

Despite prompt normalization of circulation and oxygenation after surgery, recovery of rSat of the brain took 6-26 h, probably because of higher energy demand after CPB. Pre-operative cerebral oxygenation may be underestimated as a possible cause of adverse post-operative outcome.

Both conduits demonstrated an acceptable safety and functionality. Significant calcification was rarely observed in the XPV, whereas the H developed more neointimal thickness with calcification of the porcine aortic root portion of the wall.