Relief of Compromised Translocated Right Coronary Artery Blood Flow by Clockwise Rotation of the Heart in a Jatene Procedure

A 1.9-kg premature boy with transposition of the great arteries, ventricular septal defect, and patent ductus arteriosus received a Jatene procedure at 16 days of age. His coronary artery pattern was type A. His arteries were harvested and translocated to appropriate holes in the sinus portion of his neoaorta. Partial obstruction due to torsion of the translocated right coronary artery was suspected, because the right ventricle turned pink in color to blue and bradycardia developed when cardiopulmonary bypass support was weaned. This was relieved by clockwise rotation of the heart, and the patient recovered well. Follow-up echocardiography 6 months later revealed good biventricular function.