ObjectiveTo summarize clinical experience of staged left ventricular retraining for infants with transposition of the great arteries (TGA). MethodsFrom January 2001 to December 2011, 38 TGA infants with intact ventricular septum or a small ventricular septal defect underwent left ventricular retraining in Fu Wai Hospital. There were 26 male and 12 female patients with their age of 19.1±7.7 months and body weight of 7.6±4.7 kg. Preoperative arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2)was 72.6%±9.1%. Left ventricular retraining included aortopulmonary shunt and pulmonary artery banding. Three patients received concomitant excision of the atrial septum. All survival patients were followed up after discharge. ResultsPostoperatively, SaO2 increased to 83.9%±8.1% from preoperative 72.6%±9.1%, and left ventricle-to-right ventricle pressure ratio increased to 0.75±0.09 from preoperative 0.36±0.04. Three patients (7.89%)died postoperatively. Thirty-five patients were followed up for 2 to 11 years. During follow-up, 23 patients successfully received second stage arterial switch operation (ASO). ConclusionFor TGA infants with decreased left ventricular mass who have missed the neonate period, left ventricular retraining is a safe and efficacious procedure to provide necessary preparation for second stage ASO.