Total correction of tetralogy of Fallot in adolescents and adults

Abstract only Sixty-four cyanotic patients over 15 years of age with tetralogy of Fallot have undergone total correction. Fifty-one patients had previous shunting procedures. The established intracardiac technique for total repair was used throughout. In 11% (7 of 64) of patients reconstruction of the pulmonary outflow tract was required. Follow-up extends from six months to ten years. Operative mortality was 6.25% (4 of 64). There was one late death. All deaths were technically related and none could be correlated with patient age. Bilaterally functioning Blalock shunts and Potts anastomoses contributed significantly to operative mortality. Abundant collateral circulation exists in older patients with tetralogy of Fallot, and increased bleeding in this series was reflected in a 20.3% (13 of 64) reoperation rate. Survivors represent 92.2% (59 of 64) of the group and all are completely asymptomatic. Approximately one-half of the surviving patients have undergone postoperative catheterization. Of those patients studied, 93.4% (29 of 31) have a good to excellent hemodynamic result following correction. All patients with outflow-tract patches subsequently developed pulmonary insufficiency and right-heart failure. These patients were easily managed on a cardiotonic regimen, however, and digitalis was discontinued in each case by the end of the third postoperative month. These mortality and survivor figures parallel those obtained in our total experience of 250 tetralogy repairs. We believe all patients with tetralogy of Fallot should undergo total correction. Advanced age is no contraindication to surgery. Shunting procedures, when indicated, are to be considered only a preliminary to full correction.