The importance of age and weight on cavopulmonary shunt (stage II) outcomes after the Norwood procedure: Planned versus unplanned surgery

The ventricular function, atrioventricular valve regurgitation, and need for tricuspid intervention were the primary risk factors for survival after the cavopulmonary shunt operation. Although unplanned surgery is associated with poor outcomes, this is related to the primary risk factors and not the timing or age of the patient. Somatic growth also has a significant influence on survival. Thus, an earlier cavopulmonary shunt operation is safe in infants who are thriving, but those with poor weight gain are at higher risk.