Surgery for scimitar syndrome: the Melbourne experience

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the outcomes associated with surgical repair of scimitar syndrome. METHODS: From 1974 to 2012, 21 patients with scimitar syndrome underwent corrective surgery. Outcomes included mortality, reoperation rate, hospital length of stay and long-term functional status. RESULTS: The mean age of surgery was 5.4 years (2.5 months to 16.7 years). Sixteen (76.2%) patients were symptomatic at presentation. Fifteen (71.4%) patients presented with the infantile form and 6 (28.6%) with the adult form of scimitar syndrome. Operative techniques included baffle repair in 15 (71.4%) patients, reimplantation in 5 (23.8%) patients and pneumonectomy in 1 (4.8%) patient. Six (28.6%) patient..