Definitive repair of tetralogy of fallot: A review of 104 cases

Definitive repair of tetralogy of Fallot was performed on 104 children, including 42 younger than 2 years (24 < 1 year and 7 < 6 months). Twenty-two had previous shunt. Transannular patching was required in 60 cases and conduit grafts in two. During 60-day postoperative observation, five patients died. Of the 99 survivors, 93 recovered without complications, three required prolonged mechanical ventilation, two reoperation and one balloon dilatation for residual left pulmonary artery stenosis. Morbidity and mortality were not significantly higher in the patients younger than 12 months, although trans-annular patching was more common in that age group. Previous shunt operations entailed higher prevalence of distal stenosis and distortion of the pulmonary arteries, which often necessitated surgical repair, and also considerably increased postoperative morbidity and mortality. As the outcome in definitive repair of Fallot's tetralogy is favourable, even in patients younger than 12 months, and as preliminary shunt operations are associated with heightened perioperative morbidity and mortality rates in definitive repair, we advocate the definitive operation for all young patients with severe cyanosis or cyanotic spells.