Abstract
Seventy-one neonates underwent cardiovascular operations for congenital heart diseases diseases from 1975 to 1984. There were 47 male and 24 female neonates ranging in age at operation from one day to 28 days (average 14. 2 days), and in weight at operation from 700 g to 4,150 g (average 2,900g). There were 15 cases of total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVR), 8 cases of interruption of the aortic arch (IAA), 12 cases of coarctation of the aortic arch (Co/A), 18 cases of pulmonary atresia (PPA) or severe pulmonary stenosis (PPS) with intact ventricular septum, 5 other diseases with decreased pulmonary flow and 13 other diseases with increased pulmonary flow. There were 30 operative deaths in this series. The posterior approach without circulatory arrest and aortic cross clamp contributed to the improvement of the surgical results of TAPVR. The staged operation for IAA and Co/A complex was safe and preferable procecure, except for cases with the complicated anomalies. Regarding to PPA and PPS, the neonates with small right ventricle were treated with Blalock-Taussig shunt, whereas the neonates with large right ventricle were candidates for Brock procedure. These results suggested that appropriate palliative operations in neonates followed by later difinitive operation improved the surgical results of the congenital heart dideases at present.
