Adaptable pulmonary artery band for late arterial switch procedure in transposition of the great arteries.

BACKGROUND In late-diagnosed transposition of the great arteries (TGA), the left ventricle (LV) involutes as it pumps against low resistance and needs retraining by applying a pulmonary artery band (PAB) in preparation for an arterial switch operation. We report our experience with a telemetrically adaptable band compared with classic banding. METHODS Ten patients underwent retraining of the LV, 4 patients with an adaptable band and progressive weekly tightening of the band (group 1) and 6 patients with a traditional band (group 2). RESULTS Mean weight and age at pulmonary band placement was 5.8±2.36 kg and 11.7±11.1 months for group 1 and 5.0±2.3 kg and 6.4±7.6 months for group 2. Time between palliation and switch procedure was 4.2 months in both groups. Group 1 showed an initial mean pulmonary gradient of 25.5±4.43 mm Hg with a 5% closure of the device. The mean gradient increased with progressive closure to 63.5±9.8 mm Hg at the time of the arterial switch operation. There were no reinterventions or deaths in this group. In group 2, the mean pulmonary gradient increased with growth from 49±21.4 mm Hg to 68.4±7.86 mm Hg at the time of the switch procedure. However, 4 of these patients required reoperations during retraining: 2 needed 1 reoperation and 2 needed 2 reoperations. Two patients died-1 after banding and 1 after the switch operation. CONCLUSIONS Retraining of the LV by the adaptable device allows precise control of the tightening, avoids repetitive operations, and diminishes morbidity.