Long-term outcome after total correction of tetralogy of Fallot in adolescent and adult age.

Although most patients with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) undergo radical repair during infancy and childhood, patients remaining undiagnosed and untreated until adulthood can still be treated. These patients have either a previous palliative or natural collateral circulation to the lung or a mild form of right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) obstruction. The aim of this study is to analyze the perioperative and long-term results of radical corrective procedures in patients who reached adult ages. Two hundred and seven patients with TOF underwent complete correction between 1985-and 2002, 64 (30.9%) of whom were aged 14 years or more. The mean age at corrective repair for this group was 20.6 +/- 7.5 years (range 14 to 49 years). Only two patients had previous modified Blalock-Taussig shunts. In 44 patients (68.7%) besides infundibular resection, a transannular gluteraldehyde-treated pericardial patch was used to reconstruct right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT). Only infundibular patching was used in 15 patients (23.4%) and infundibular muscular resection with primary closure of right ventricle was performed in five patients (7.8%). Hospital mortality was 3.1% with two patients. Four patients (6.2%) underwent reoperation because of recurrent ventricular septal defect (VSD) with/without residual obstruction or pulmonary regurgitation. All survivors were in NYHA class I (42) or II (17). Late mortality was recorded in two patients and 16-year actuarial survival was 89.2%+/- 4.9%. The significant negative predictors of late survival determined by univariate analysis were reoperation <0.018) and associated cardiac anomalies <0.011). Multivariate analysis showed that there was no negative predictor of late-term mortality. Corrective procedures in adult patients with TOF can be performed successfully compared to patients who underwent operation during infancy and childhood.