Surgical Treatment of Tetralogy of Fallot with Unilateral Absence of a Pulmonary Artery

Tetralogy of Fallot with unilateral absence of a pulmonary artery imposes more marked symptomatology and a much shorter life-span in comparison with the usual tetralogy of Fallot. The operative mortality with total correction has been 50%, and the survivors require prolonged hospitalization for control of severe right heart failure. An aorta-to-right pulmonary artery shunt is suggested as a satisfactory palliative measure which may have beneficial effects on the pulmonary vascular bed, permitting a safer total correction at a later date.