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%) patients w..