Total Correction of Tetralogy of Fallot in Infancy

Abstract

Total intracardiac repair of symptomatic tetralogy of Fallot was accomplished in twenty-nine infants under two years of age with a mortality of six per cent. All twenty-seven survivors are asymptomatic. Postoperative hemodynamic evaluation of 17 randomly selected children was performed at least 12 months following surgery. Pulmonary regurgitation was present in 12 of the 17 children but was well tolerated, with only minimal cardiac enlargement and in no case were there symptoms or important hemodynamic consequences. Growth of the pulmonary artery with respect to the aorta occurred. Normal left ventricular performance was indicated by normal ejection fraction and normal systemic arterial pressure. Intellectual and social development were indistinguishable from a "normal" group of randomly selected children as assessed by detailed psychological testing.