ObjectiveTo define the patient characteristics and perioperative management, and to define the mortality and its risk factors after arterial switch operation (ASO).MethodsWe conducted a bidirectional cohort study with 571 consecutive patients undergoing ASO from 1997 to 2016 in our hospital. We enrolled patients who underwent ASO before 2012 retrospectively and after 2012 prospectively and followed up all the patients prospectively. Demographic characteristics, clinical information and mortality of these patients were summarized. Joinpoint regression analysis was used to identify the time trend of the overall mortality. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to evaluate the mid- and long-term survival rate after ASO. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to explore the potential factors associated with mortality. The cumulative incidence of complications after ASO was predicted using competing risk models.ResultsSeveral aspects of patients’ characteristics and perioperative management in our center differed from those in the developed countries. The overall mortality and in-hospital mortality after ASO was 16.3% and 15.1%, respectively. The overall cumulative survival rate at 5, 10 and 15 years after ASO was 83.3%, 82.8% and 82.8%, respectively. A significant decrease of overall mortality from 1997 to 2016 was observed. Independent risk factors of mortality included earlier ASO (1997-2006), single or intramural coronary anatomy and longer cardiopulmonary bypass time. Ten years after ASO, re-intervention, arrhythmia, pulmonary and anastomotic stenosis were the most common complications with a cumulative incidence over 10%.ConclusionSignificant improvements in the results of the ASO were observed and the postoperative mortality rate is close to reports from developed countries. Nonetheless, we have identified the need for further improvement in the early and late postoperative periods after ASO. Pulmonary stenosis, anastomotic stenosis and arrhythmia should be paid attention to during the long-term follow-up after ASO.