BackgroundTransposition of the great arteries (TGA) is the most common cyanotic cardiopathy,
with an incidence ranging between 0.2 and 0.4 per 1000 live births. Many patients
not treated in the first few months of life may progress with severe pulmonary
vascular disease. Treatment of these patients may include palliative surgery to
redirect the flow at the atrial level.ObjectiveReport our institutional experience with the palliative Senning procedure in
children diagnosed with TGA and double outlet right ventricle with severe
pulmonary vascular disease, and to evaluate the early and late clinical
progression of the palliative Senning procedure.MethodsRetrospective study based on the evaluation of medical records in the period of
1991 to 2014. Only patients without an indication for definitive surgical
treatment of the cardiopathy due to elevated pulmonary pressure were included.ResultsAfter one year of follow-up there was a mean increase in arterial oxygen
saturation from 62.1% to 92.5% and a mean decrease in hematocrit from 49.4% to
36.3%. Lung histological analysis was feasible in 16 patients. In 8 patients,
pulmonary biopsy grades 3 and 4 were evidenced.ConclusionThe palliative Senning procedure improved arterial oxygen saturation, reduced
polycythemia, and provided a better quality of life for patients with TGA with
ventricular septal defect, severe pulmonary hypertension, and poor prognosis.