Eight years' experience with intracardiac repair of tetralogy of Fallot. Early and late results in 175 consecutive patients.

Abstract

The early and late results of intracardiac repair of 175 cases of tetralogy of Fallot during the period 1969 to 76 are reviewed. Overall hospital mortality was 8%, with a 5% mortality in patients over 2 years of age. Late mortality was 1%. Both early and late mortality and morbidity were related to the right ventricular to left ventricular peak systolic pressure ratio measured at the end of the operation. During the eight year period, a fall in mortality from 37 to 15% was recorded in patients less than 2 years of age. As a result of the experience gained during this period, we have now adopted a more active policy towards reconstruction of the right ventricular outflow tract while remaining aware of the potential problems of pulmonary regurgitation.