Purpose: Identification of risk factors for mortality in subclavian-pulmonary anastomosis using polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE).
Patient and methods: Immediate surgical results (30 days) were analyzed in 180 cyanotic patients consecutively operated on from september 1979 to march 1989.
Results: The hospital mortality was 12.7% (23 patients) and age at surgery, low weight (less than 3 kg) and preoperative diagnosis were considered risk factors for mortality. Pulmonary artery diameter at echocardiography, date of surgery and diameter of the conduits were associated with increased risk, but this association lacked statistical significance. Sex and previous palliative surgery have not increased hospital mortality.
Conclusion: We believe that identification of risk factors to PTFE conduit implant plays an important role in the preoperative management of those patients in order to obtain better results in this life saving procedure.