Double Switch

The date for the Double Switch operation is looming: May 19th, which is also his great-grandma's 99th birthday.

From the Mayo Clinic's webpage:

"Double Switch Operation



Today, more patients are being offered a "double switch" operation. At the time the surgeon fixes a defect such as a ventricular septal defect, he or she also reroutes the great arteries so that the ventricles are pumping blood in the direction of a normal heart. This is clearly a much more formidable surgical undertaking, with somewhat greater risk, but if successful, should result in better long-term health of ventricles, especially the over-worked right ventricle.

The best surgical approach to use today in patients with corrected transposition remains controversial, but as surgeons gain greater experience with the "double switch" operation and surgical risk decreases, there is increasing enthusiasm for this approach."

To sum it up: they close the hole, switch the great arteries, and put 'baffles' in his heart to re-route the blood so that it goes to the correct chambers.  9-12 hours