Transatrial-transpulmonary repair of tetralogy of Fallot.

Routine early transatrial-transpulmonary repair of tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) has been performed at our institution since 1990. A transatrial-transpulmonary approach implies a minimal or no ventriculotomy and therefore it is expected to improve the right ventricular performance in the long term. Early transatrial-transpulmonary repair has been used for avoiding the deleterious effects of preoperative chronic cyanosis and spells, surgery for systemic-to-pulmonary artery shunts and their consequences, chronic right ventricular systolic pressure, and myocardial compensatory hypertrophy, with the aim of achieving better preservation of the right ventricular function in the long term. In our experience, transatrial-transpulmonary repair of TOF has been feasible at any age with immediate results that are comparable to those performed later in infancy.