Between April 68 and May 91, 59 patients underwent total correction for double-outlet right ventricle. The mean age was 59.2 +/- 7.8 months. The hospital mortality rate was 27%; it was 41% before 1980 and 13% thereafter. Low cardiac output failure was the leading cause of early death. Myocardial protection without cardioplegia and long cardiopulmonary bypass time were significant predictors of hospital mortality in univariate as well as in multivariate analysis. The late death rate was 7%. The actuarial survival rate was 67% (CL 55-80%) after 10 and 20 years. The reoperation rate was 42%, a loose VSD patch constituted the main indication (23%). The actuarial freedom from reoperation rate was 51% (CL 33%-69%) after 10 years and 31% (12%-50%) after 20 years. The mean follow-up time was 8.4 +/- 0.9 years (2 to 20 years). Seventy-five percent of all postoperative survivors are in NYHA functional class I and left ventricular ejection fraction is normal in 82%.