OBJECTIVE: To evaluate short-term and medium-term results of intracardiac correction of Tetralogy of Fallot in the first year of life. METHODS: From January 1996 to October 2004, 67 consecutive infants ranging in age from 1 to 11 months (mean: 7.2 months) and weighing from 4 to 10 kilograms (mean: 7.1 kilograms) underwent elective total correction of Tetralogy of Fallot. The surgery was accomplished with conventional cardiopulmonary bypass and moderate hypothermia. Right ventriculotomy was performed in 60 (89.5%) cases and an atriopulmonary approach was used in the other seven (10.5%) cases. RESULTS: Cardiopulmonary bypass time ranged from 35 to 147 minutes (mean: 78.8 ± 21 minutes), and aortic clamping time ranged from 25 to 86 minutes (mean: 51.8 ± 15.6 minutes). Transannular enlargement of the right ventricular outflow tract was needed in 50 (64.1%) patients. Gradient between the right ventricle and pulmonary artery after correction varied from 0 to 54 mmHg (mean: 15.5 ± 10.8 mmHg). There were two (2.98%) early deaths. Follow-up of the 65 survivors ranged from 7 to 115 months (mean:44.0 ± 35 months). There was one late noncardiac death. All other patients are asymptomatic. The actuarial survival curve at 12 years, including operative mortality, was 97%. Ten patients were evaluated by magnetic nuclear angioresonance. CONCLUSIONS: Intracardiac correction of Tetralogy of Fallot in the first year of life may be performed with low morbidity and mortality and good late results.
Tetralogy of Fallot; Heart defects, congenital; Treatment outcome; Child; Follow-up studies
