Mustard procedure

Mustard procedure is a surgical technique used in the treatment of congenital heart defects, specifically transposition of the great arteries (TGA). The procedure was developed by Dr. William Thornton Mustard, a Canadian surgeon, and was first performed in 1963.

History

The Mustard procedure was named after its developer, Dr. William Thornton Mustard. He was a Canadian surgeon who specialized in cardiothoracic surgery. The first successful Mustard procedure was performed in 1963 at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada.

Procedure

The Mustard procedure is a type of atrial switch operation. It involves creating a baffle or tunnel inside the atrium to redirect the flow of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood. This is done to correct the transposition of the great arteries, a condition where the two main arteries leaving the heart are reversed.

In the Mustard procedure, the surgeon opens the heart and removes the atrial septum, the wall that separates the two atria. A baffle is then created using the patient's own tissue or a synthetic material. This baffle redirects the flow of blood, ensuring that oxygenated blood from the lungs goes to the body and deoxygenated blood from the body goes to the lungs.

Risks and Complications

Like all surgical procedures, the Mustard procedure carries risks. These include infection, bleeding, and complications from anesthesia. Specific to the Mustard procedure, there is a risk of baffle obstruction or leakage, which can lead to heart failure or other serious complications.

Long-term complications can also occur, including arrhythmia, or irregular heart rhythm, and baffle stenosis, a narrowing of the baffle. Regular follow-up with a cardiologist is necessary to monitor for these potential complications.

Alternatives

The Mustard procedure has largely been replaced by the arterial switch operation, which was developed in the 1970s. This procedure is now the standard treatment for transposition of the great arteries. However, the Mustard procedure may still be used in certain cases, such as when the patient has other heart defects that make the arterial switch operation unsuitable.

See also

• Congenital heart defect
• Transposition of the great arteries
• Arterial switch operation