[Outcome of children operated on for congenital cardiopathy before 2 years of age. Foreseeable sequelae at adulthood].

A brief description is presented of the long-term follow-up of four commonly encountered cardiopathies undergoing early surgical correction. Sequelae are not increased and probably even less frequent when compared to children undergoing surgery after two years of age. It is still too early, however, to establish whether or not certain manifestations, such as rhythm or conduction disturbances and ventricular dysfunction will develop at a later date. The prognosis of coarctation of the aorta depends to a great extent on other associated lesions which can become serious over time and require additional surgical procedures. In the past, early surgery for large ventricular septal defects was poorly tolerated, but now the prognosis is particularly favorable. Persistent hemodynamic abnormalities such as stenoses of the pulmonary outflow tract can worsen the prognosis in tetralogy of Fallot. In addition, it is especially important to recognize subsequent ventricular dysrhythmias due to their potentially serious nature. The most common procedures for transposition of the great arteries consist of auricular transposition of the venous returns which may later cause rhythm disturbances or venous stenoses. The long-term functional capacity of the right ventricle as a pump for the systemic circulation is not known. A general outline of follow-up care is presented.