Corrective Surgery for Tetralogy of Fallot

Abstract

Fifty patients with tetralogy of Fallot have had surgical correction of their complex defects made possible by the open technic during the past 5 years. The overall 5-year operative mortality was 18 per cent. This was reduced to 15 per cent during the past 2 years in 20 patients. Forty-one of the patients are alive, asymptomatic, and have normal physical activity. Ffteen patients have had cardiac evaluation studies including cardiac catheterization from 1½ to 3 years postoperatively. Thirteen patients had normal cardiac hemodynamics. In only two patients was there evidence of incomplete hemodynamic improvement even though marked clinical improvement was gained.