Study designs of evaluations included in the review
Comparative observational studies with at least 10 patients in each treatment group were eligible for inclusion. Case series reporting results for only one procedure and case reports were excluded. In the included studies, the duration of follow-up, where reported, ranged from 13 to 201 months.
Specific interventions included in the review
Studies that compared the Mustard and the Senning procedures for correction of transposition were eligible for inclusion.
Participants included in the review
Studies of patients who had undergone the specified procedures for regular transposition (defined as the combinations of concordant atrioventricular and discordant ventriculo-arterial connection) were eligible for inclusion. Where reported, the age of participants undergoing surgery ranged from less than 2 weeks to 55.5 months. Some of the included studies involved patients with complex concordant atrioventricular and discordant ventriculo-arterial connection; other studies excluded this group of patients or provided no details.
Outcomes assessed in the review
The studies had to report rates of overall survival or sufficient data to permit their calculation for each treatment group. The review also assessed obstructions and residual shunts related to the baffle, bradydysrhythmias, atrial tachydysrhythmias, right ventricular (systemic) failure and functional capacity.
How were decisions on the relevance of primary studies made?
The authors did not state how the papers were selected for the review, or how many reviewers performed the selection.