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.

Tetralogy of Fallot - congenital heart disease - cyanosis

References

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