The Taussig-Bing syndrome; a report of two further cases, one complicated by aortic coarctation

Differential diagnosis of the Taussig-Bing heart from complete transposition of the great vessels with a posteriorly overriding pulmonary artery

The Taussig-Bing transposition bears the name of the authors who described for the first time the clinical, physiologic, and anatomic findings. It has been recognized that the malformation is physiologically not so distinct as it is anatomically and that a transposition with the same physiologic pattern but different anatomy has been observed. Several case reports have appeared in the literature in which no clear differentiation was made in regard to the second type of transposition with overriding pulmonary artery. In the latter instance there is a complete transposition of both great vessels with a posteriorly placed overriding pulmonary artery in contrast to the original Taussig-Bing heart in which the 2 vessels are side by side, the pulmonary artery being in its normal place.

Following the original case report, 14 cases were seen in this clinic in which the diagnosis was established either by catheterization, angiocardiography, or autopsy. In 4 other cases, the diagnosis of a transposition with a posterior overriding pulmonary artery was made. Criteria for the differential diagnosis of these 2 lesions are pointed out. The differentiation of these 2 transpositions is of particular importance for possible surgical correction.

New approach to great-vessel reconstruction in transposition complexes with interrupted aortic arch

Interrupted aortic arch can be associated with transposition of the great arteries with ventricular septal defect and with the Taussig-Bing anomaly. This usually results in a marked disparity between the hypoplastic ascending aorta and the dilated main pulmonary artery. Currently, standard arterial switch and arch repair is a widely applied approach to the surgical management of these lesions. Though the morphology of the great vessels in these lesions does not preclude this approach, the great-vessel mismatch can result in difficulties at and beyond the proximal neo-aortic to ascending aortic suture line that cause excessive bleeding, obstruction, tension, distortion, and the need of patch augmentation of the ascending aorta or arch with nonviable material. We present an alternative surgical approach used in 2 patients, 1 with Taussig-Bing anomaly and interrupted aortic arch and the other with transposition of the great arteries, ventricular septal defect, and interrupted aortic arch, that greatly simplifies the reconstruction of the neo-aorta and repair of the interrupted arch and avoids these potential hazards.

Double-outlet right ventricle and severe systemic outflow tract hypoplasia

Double-outlet right ventricle and severe systemic outflow tract hypoplasia comprises a subset of patients in whom total correction or palliation requires complex surgical procedures in the neonatal period. Our experience with 3 patients illustrates the difficulties associated with treatment and suggests possible surgical options for this otherwise lethal variant of the Taussig-Bing syndrome.

Taussig-Bing heart with mitral valve straddling: case reports and postmortem study

Seven autopsied cases of the Taussig-Bing Heart diagnosed at the Heart Institute of Japan were reexamined for this report. Three cases had been correctly classified according to the original description of the Taussig-Bing Heart. The remaining four cases provided examples of a rare variation of this malformation. Characteristic features included the following: the mitral valve straddled the ventricular septum in all cases; the chordae of the anterior leaflet crossed over the septum into the right ventricle through a large subpulmonary ventricular septal defect; and an abnormal muscle ridge, extending from the caudal part of the parietal band, covered the right ventricular side of the ventricular septal defect. Although these four cases differ anatomically from the original Taussig-Bing Heart, their hemodynamics are similar. We have called this anomaly the Taussig-Bing Heart with mitral valve straddling.