Valve-Sparing Tetralogy of Fallot Repair With Intraoperative Dilation of the Pulmonary Valve

Deleterious long-term effects of pulmonary regurgitation after tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) repair have become evident during the last two decades. Subsequently, different groups have developed strategies aimed at preserving the pulmonary valve function. However, the results of these approaches are not well known. From July 2009 through March 2012, 38 patients underwent primary repair of TOF at the authors’ institution. Of these, 12 children (7 boys) underwent attempted pulmonary valve-sparing surgery with intraoperative dilation of the pulmonary valve. The technical details as well as the echocardiographic preoperative and follow-up data for this repair were recorded, with a special focus on the feasibility of the technique and the effects on pulmonary valve function. No patient in the series died. At repair, the median age was 6 months (range 3.4–126 months), and the median weight was 7.6 kg (range 4.7–47 kg). Intraoperative dilation of the pulmonary valve was technically feasible for all the patients. Two patients had unsuccessful dilation and underwent a transannular patch procedure. During a median follow-up period of 22 months (range 6–30 months), the pulmonary valve diameter and z-score improved significantly. Moreover, the annular size normalized, whereas the mean right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) gradient remained at the mild level (median, 24 mmHg; range 12–36 mmHg). At the most recent follow-up evaluation, three patients showed moderate pulmonary regurgitation. Intraoperative dilation of the pulmonary valve in patients undergoing TOF repair is feasible and provides good relief of obstruction. Moreover, the pulmonary valve annulus grows through the follow-up period. Longer follow-up studies are needed to evaluate the exact role of this strategy in this population.