Early and late results after repair of tetralogy of Fallot

Between January 1, 1975, and December 31, 1988, 233 patients were operated on for correction of tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). Mean follow-up was 13.9 years (median 7.65 years) and was 99.6% complete. Actuarial survival was 84 +/- 3%. The risk of death decreased gradually to a constant rate of 0.00034 deaths/month by the 6th postoperative month. There were 22 early deaths, due mostly to Low Output Syndrome. The principal incremental risk factor was the postrepair ventricular pressure ratio (PRV/LV) (P less than 0.0001). Other factors were: patent ductus arteriosus (PDA; P = 0.02), other associated anomalies (P = 0.005), higher preoperative hemoglobin levels (P = 0.06) and use of transannular patches (P = 0.02). The operative risk was significantly reduced by a recent operative date (P = 0.01) and by an older age at operation (P = 0.12). Among 8 late deaths, 2 were unrelated to the cardiac condition, 2 occurred suddenly, 3 were due to congestive heart failure and the last was due to reoperation for patch endocarditis. The risk of late death was significantly higher in patients operated on at an older age (P = 0.04). There were 10 open heart reoperations: 5 for patch dehiscence, 4 for residual pulmonary stenosis and 1 for residual atrial septal defect. The reoperation-free actuarial survival was 82 +/- 3%. With the present operative standards, the parametric operative risk of an average patient with simple TOF (hemoglobin = 12 g, PRV/LV = 0.5) is 0.7%. Where the TOF is severely cyanotic (hemoglobin = 25 g) and the pulmonary arteries are severely restricted, the average mortality is 30%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Evaluation of late results of radical correction of tetralogy of Fallot based on treadmill test]

The treadmill test was conducted, according to an elaborated program for evaluating insufficient pumping function of the left/right heart and the threshold of +lactic acidosis decompensation, in 53 patients before and in 86 patients after radical correction of Fallot's tetralogy. Insufficiency of left-heart pumping functions occurred after the operation significantly less frequently in patients with a monocuspic graft (14 +/- 7%; M +/- m) and more frequently in suture plastics (54 +/- 14%). A similar tendency was also authentic for right-ventricular ejection and decompensation of acidosis load. It was proved that patients with a monocusp are distinguished by higher and most stable results for a period of 5 years after the correction. Lower results were characteristic of transannular plastics and of patients who were operated on through a longitudinal approach; the lowest results occurred in suture plastics through a transverse approach. It was found that ++re-shunting of the ventricular septal defect levels the results of the various types of correction of the anomaly. It is shown that the criteria of insufficiency of the heart pumping function may be used in the diagnosis of latent stenoses and regurgitations of the infundibulum of the heart and the pulmonary artery whose functional significance is revealed only during a load.     

Long-term follow-up studies in 211 patients with tetralogy of Fallot after corrective surgery over 10 years

A total number of 427 patients with tetralogy of Fallot who underwent corrective surgery between 1960 and March 1990, in whom 211 patients who survived the surgery over 10 years were evaluated for the follow-up studies. Hemodynamic and cardiac function studies were carried out in 101 patients at the mean interval of 15.7 years (ranges 2 to 21 years). Three methods indicated that patients with muscle resection and pulmonary valvulotomy without patch enlargement (NP) had worse results than the groups with RV patch below valve (RP) and with transannular patch (TP). Also, Holter ECG revealed ventricular arrhythmias in patients with NP were more common than the groups with RP and TP. Sixteen patients (13 with NP, 2 with TP and one with RP) were required reoperation for residual ventricular shunt in 13, residual pulmonary stenosis in 11 and tricuspid regurgitation in 2. All of these 16 patients survived operation and obtained excellent clinical status. It is concluded that patients with TOF after corrective surgery should be carefully followed with short term interval to prevent sudden death and postoperative complications.     

Palliative surgery in tetralogy of Fallot

Because much controversy surrounds the palliative surgical treatment of young children with tetralogy of Fallot the authors review their experience over 13 years with two procedures--the Blalock-Taussig operation and the Waterston shunt. Blalock shunts were performed 195 times in 172 patients; 147 had a single Blalock anastomosis which carried them through the critical period and allowed for later correction of the tetralogy. Thrombosis of the Blalock anastomosis occurred in two patients in the early postoperative period. In 23 patients a second shunt was necessary after the first Blalock shunt became inadequate in spite of being patent. The age of the children ranged from 2 weeks to 9 years, 74% being operated upon under the age of 2 years. There were four early deaths (2%) and five late deaths (2.5%) in this group. Of the last 91 consecutive patients operated upon between Sept. 1, 1972 and June 30, 1980 none have died. Between September 1968 and June 1980, 14 patients with tetralogy of Fallot underwent a Waterston shunt. Their ages ranged from 2 days to 4 years. Six patients were younger than 35 days at the time of operation. There were two operative deaths in this group. The Waterston shunt carries a high risk and is reserved for the occasional patient who needs palliation during the first weeks of life and in whom the anatomy of the subclavian artery does not favour a good Blalock-Taussig shunt. The Blalock-Taussig operation is preferred because it is safe and gives good sustained clinical results. The mortality was much lower than previously reported. The growth of the pulmonary arteries was good in most patients. The Blalock shunt did not increase the pulmonary resistance and it did not influence the operative mortality.     

Surgical treatment of tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary atresia: early and late results

From 1968 to 1987, 45 consecutive patients with tetralogy of Fallot and pulmonary atresia underwent corrective surgery. In the former 10 years, there were 8 operative deaths (40%) in the 20 patients and no late death. In the recent 10 years, there were 4 operative deaths and 4 late deaths in the 25 patients. In the 17 patients associated with large aorto pulmonary collateral artery (LAPCA) which was ligated in the most patients, there were 5 operative deaths (29%) and 3 late deaths. Nine patients (53%) survived long-term. There were 7 operative deaths (25%), one late death and 20 patients (71%) being long-term survivors in the 28 patients without LAPCA. Pulmonary hemodynamics were investigated in 10 patients without LAPCA and 11 with LAPCA after corrective surgery. Pulmonary arterial mean pressure (PAm) ranged from 9-24 (17 +/- 6) mmHg in patients without LAPCA and 15-92 (37 +/- 23) mmHg in those with LAPCA. Pulmonary arteriography showed arborization abnormality in 7 of the 11 patients with LAPCA. PAm inversely correlated well with number of pulmonary artery segments connected to the central pulmonary arteries. Postoperative pulmonary hypertension was found in patients with less than 16 bronchopulmonary segments connected to the central pulmonary arteries, and two of them died of pulmonary hypertension late after surgery. These results suggested that unifocalization to connect the central pulmonary artery more than 15 bronchopulmonary segments may be an important strategy for correction of this anomaly with LAPCA.     

Repeated procedure after radical surgery for tetralogy of Fallot

BACKGROUND: Although the immediate results of radical operation for tetralogy of Fallot are excellent, long-term follow-up has shown that the number of repeated procedures has increased in many institutions. We describe patients who underwent a second or third procedure after radical operation for tetralogy of Fallot. METHODS: Between April 1981 and August 1996, we operated on 44 patients for the second time and on 4 for the third time after radical operation for tetralogy of Fallot. Indications for a second and third procedure included right ventricular outflow tract obstruction in 38 patients, infective endocarditis in 4, and isolated residual ventricular septal defect in 3. RESULTS: One patient died after concomitant replacement of the pulmonary and tricuspid valves. Three patients who underwent sternotomy more than twice (before the second or third operation) underwent accidental cardiovascular trauma during this procedure (30%). Moreover, when patients underwent more than two sternotomy procedures before the repeated operation for tetralogy of Fallot, the total bypass time, interval between cessation of the cardiopulmonary pump to completion of the operation, amount of blood transfusion, and length of intensive care unit stay were significantly higher compared with those who underwent less than two sternotomy procedures (p < 0.05). Right ventricular outflow tract obstruction was the main indication for a second operation. After the second operation for right ventricular outflow tract obstruction in 35 patients, the preoperative right ventricle to left ventricle pressure ratio decreased significantly (from 0.75 +/- 0.13 to 0.51 +/- 0.12; p < 0.0001). However, the right ventricle to left ventricle pressure ratio did not significantly decrease in patients who underwent a third procedure to treat right ventricular outflow tract obstruction. CONCLUSIONS: The surgical results of a second procedure after radical operation for tetralogy of Fallot were acceptable. However, the risk of accidental cardiovascular trauma during dissection was high among patients who underwent sternotomy more than twice before repeat operation.     

Ninety consecutive corrective operations for tetralogy of Fallot with or without minimal right ventriculotomy

Eighty-eight patients with tetralogy of Fallot and two patients with ventricular septal defect and pulmonary atresia underwent repair without right ventriculotomy (n = 43) or with a minimal right ventriculotomy (n = 47) of 10 to 15 mm. The ventricular septal defect was closed through the tricuspid valve in 75 patients. The pulmonary valve was either preserved or reconstructed to maintain its competence. The age at operation was 1 or 2 years in 51 patients. There was one operative death and there were no late deaths. The results of postoperative cardiac catheterization in the present series of patients (n = 34) were compared with those of control patients (n = 21) who had repairs with a conventional right ventriculotomy in the preceding period. There was no significant difference in right ventricular/left ventricular systolic pressure ratio or in cardiac index either at rest or during isoproterenol infusion between the two groups. The incidence of significant pulmonary regurgitation (Grade greater than or equal to 2/4) was less (p less than 0.05) in the present patients (47%, n = 34) than in the control patients (81%, n = 21). The right ventricular end-diastolic volume index (ml/m2) was smaller in the present patients than in the control patients both at rest (91 +/- 37 versus 142 +/- 28, p less than 0.01) and during isoproterenol infusion (81 +/- 21 versus 109 +/- 30, p less than 0.01). The right ventricular ejection fraction was higher in the present patients than in the control patients during isoproterenol infusion (57% +/- 4% versus 49% +/- 6%, p less than 0.01). The incidence of ventricular arrhythmias (Lown's grade greater than or equal to 2) was less in the present patients (6/35) than in the control patients (36/65) (p less than 0.005). This method of repair for tetralogy of Fallot carries no more risk than the conventional method, and the results are better with respect to postoperative right ventricular function and ventricular arrhythmia.     

Valve-sparing options in tetralogy of Fallot surgery

Given late outcomes of patients with tetralogy of Fallot repaired in the 1970s and 1980s, as well as a better understanding of the late deleterious effects of pulmonary regurgitation, there is a tendency toward preservation of the pulmonary valve function during primary repair of tetralogy of Fallot. The bar keeps moving downward, to include smaller and more dysmorphic pulmonary valves. This article reviews some useful indications and techniques for valve-sparing options, including intraoperative balloon dilation and cusp reconstruction using a patch. Just like other valve repair techniques, no one technique can be applied uniformly, and surgeons must master a wide armamentarium of techniques.     

Treadmill test in objective evaluation of late results of radical correction of tetralogy of Fallot

The many-stage treadmill test was carried out according to a worked-out program in 41 patients before and in 55 patients after radical correction of Fallot's tetrad (40 healthy individuals were the controls). The pump function of the heart (oxygen debt dynamics), the anaerobic threshold (complex of gas analytical indices), and the efficacy of blood flow in lesser circulation (O2 consumption plateau) were appraised. The results proved to be best according to all criteria in patients with trans-annuloplasty of the conus arteriosus and pulmonary trunk with the use of a monocusp graft, and poorest in patients who were operated on through a transverse approach. This regularity was also encountered in 31 patients who were studied in follow-up periods of 3 years after the operation.