| Abstract: | 46 Children with tricuspid atresia, 56 with pulmonary atresia and ventricular septal defect (VSD) and 33 with pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum were diagnosed and treated at the University's Children's Hospital Tübingen between 1967 and 83. Their age distribution and mortality is compared to 91 autopsy-proven cases of tricuspid atresia, 123 cases of pulmonary atresia with VSD and 41 cases without VSD, reported in the time between 1783 and 1945 showing the natural history of these malformations. Inspite of intensive medical and operative therapy, the results of which are reported in detail, mortality continues to be high: 55% of our patients with tricuspid atresia die within the first year of life, 60-62% within the first 2 years (in the bibliographical collective 64% and 73%), 53-61% of patients with pulmonary atresia and VSD die within the first, 61-68% within the first 2 years (in the bibliographical collective 74% and 78%), and 78% of patients with pulmonary atresia without VSD within the first year, 88% within the first 2 years of life (in the bibliographic collective 95% and 97%). |
