How is DORV treated?

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How is DORV treated?

Almost all babies with DORV need open-heart surgery within the first year of life. Your healthcare provider will help you make decisions about surgery by considering:

  • Other problems with the baby’s heart or other organs.
  • Overall health.
  • Type of DORV.

The surgeon may take one of the following approaches:

  • Biventricular repair (also called arterial switch): If both ventricles are in good shape and DORV is not complex, the surgeon may recommend biventricular repair. This approach moves the aorta to the left ventricle.
  • Intraventricular repair: The surgeon creates a tunnel through the VSD to connect the aorta to the left ventricle. The tunnel is called a baffle.
  • Univentricular repair (Fontan operation): For more complex cases of DORV, the surgeon may recommend this procedure. It redirects blood flow from the lower body to the lungs.

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