Predictors of a complicated course after surgical repair of tetralogy of Fallot

Background: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the patient and surgical factors affecting prolonged hospital stay and major adverse events after surgical repair of tetralogy of Fallot and to identify the predictors of a complicated course after surgical repair. Methods: A total of 170 consecutive patients (96 males, 74 females; median age 12 months; range, 1 to 192 months) who underwent surgical repair of tetralogy of Fallot between January 2015 and April 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. A mechanical ventilation duration of >24 h, an intensive care unit stay of >3 days, and a hospital stay of >7 days were considered as prolonged. Unplanned reoperation, complete heart block requiring a permanent pacemaker implantation, renal failure, diaphragmatic paralysis, neurological deficit, sudden circulatory arrest, need for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and death were considered as major adverse events. Results: The median time to hospital discharge was 8.0 (range, 5.0 to 40.0) days. Higher preoperative hematocrit levels prolonged the length of hospital stay (odds ratio: 1.12, 95% confidence interval 1.1-1.2, p