Long-Term Results of Surgical Treatment of Tetralogy of Fallot in Adults

Abstract

Background: The long-term results of patients with tetralogy of Fallot surgically treated in adulthood were evaluated to define the real benefit of surgical correction. Methods: Between August 1990 and February 2004, 57 patients older than 18 years of age with tetralogy of Fallot received total correction. Forty-two patients (73.7 %) required transannular patch. Results: Hospital and late mortality were 7.0 % (n = 4) and 5.7 % (n = 3), respectively. One patient was reoperated on to close residual ventricular septal defect. Four patients were lost. Of the remaining 49 patients, the mean follow-up was 65 ± 38 months (range 11 - 173 months). Actuarial survival was 97.4 ± 2.5 %, 91 ± 7 % and 72.8 ± 17.1 % at 5, 10 and 14 years, respectively. At the latest follow-up, 35 (76.1 %) of the surviving patients presently have NYHA functional class I (p < 0.01). Conclusion: The overall survival of surgically treated adult patients with tetralogy of Fallot is acceptable. The greatest benefit of total correction at this age is the functional improvement.

Key words

Tetralogy of Fallot - congenital heart disease - cyanosis

References

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