Long‐Term Survival and Freedom From Coronary Artery Reintervention After Arterial Switch Operation for Transposition of the Great Arteries: A Population‐Based Nationwide Study

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate long‐term survival and freedom from coronary artery reintervention after the arterial switch operation (ASO). METHODS AND RESULTS: This single‐center nationwide retrospective study included consecutive children who underwent ASO between 1990 and 2016 (n=605). Long‐term outcomes were obtained by cross‐mapping individual data with the National Death Registry and the National Registry of Cardiovascular Interventions for adults. A control group was randomly retrieved at a 1:10 ratio from the National Birth and Death Registries. Early mortality was 3.3% and late mortality was 1.7% during a median follow‐up of 10 (interquartile range, 5–16) years. The probability of overall survival at 20 years after ASO was 94.9% compared with 99.5% in the background population (hazard ratio [HR] 15.6; 95% CI, 8.9–27.5, P<0.001). Independent multivariable predictors of worse survival were an intramural coronary artery (HR, 5.2; 95% CI, 1.8–15.2, P=0.002) and period of ASO 1990 to 1999 (HR, 4.6; 95% CI, 1.5–13.6, P<0.001). Fourteen patients (2.3%) required 16 coronary artery reoperations. Freedom from coronary artery reintervention at 20 years after ASO was 96%. The only independent multivariable predictor associated with a higher hazard for coronary artery reintervention was an intramural coronary artery (HR, 33.9; 95% CI, 11.8–97.5, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Long‐term survival after ASO is excellent. Coronary artery reinterventions are rare. An intramural coronary artery was an independent predictor associated with a higher risk for coronary artery reintervention and death, regardless of the surgical period.