A 3-day-old newborn underwent an emergency arterial switch operation (ASO) for transposition of the great arteries on the first day of birth. Delayed sternal closure was performed due to postoperative low cardiac output and unstable hemodynamics. On the third day after surgery, the infant’s vital signs were stable. It was scheduled to perform sternal closure. Infants requiring delayed sternal closure are often newborns or preterm infants shortly after complex cardiovascular correction surgery, which makes anesthetic management extremely challenging.