Senning Operation for Transposition of Great Arteries

Abstract

In 1952, Albert^[1] introduced the notion of intra-atrial rerouting of blood for functional correction of transposition of the great arteries (TGA). In 1959, Senning ^[2] described his ingenious operation for (intra-atrial) repair of TGA. However, only few successes were reported with the Senning operation during the early 60’s; then considered a surgical tour de force. When Mustard,^[3] in 1964, published his atrial baffle technique most cardiac surgeons adopted this new operation with continuously improving results. A renaissance of the Senning operation was brought about by the encouraging report from the Leyden^[4] group in 1977. Improved understanding of patient selection i.e. earlier repair, refinements in cardiopulmonary bypass techniques, with or without associated hypothermia, advances in post-operative management and standardization of the surgical technique has increased the popularity of the Senning operation, which can now be done at a low operative risk, in neonates and young infants.