[The surgical treatment of tetralogy of fallot in 136 adults].

OBJECTIVE

To summarize the experience of surgical treatment of tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) in adults.

METHOD: From April 1975 to December 1997, 136 adult patients underwent total corrective repair of tetralogy of Fallot. The patient age ranged from 14 to 52 years old. The ventricular septal defects were closed with Dacron patch in 112 patients, with pericardial patch in 24 patients. A right ventricular outflow patch was required to eliminate right ventricular outflow tract obstruction in 126 patients.

RESULT: Five patients died during hospitalization, with a hospital mortality of 3.68%. Four early postoperative deaths were due to severe low cardiac output syndrome.

CONCLUSION

In view of current improved and standardized techniques, we conclude that the total corrective repair of TOF may have an excellent result in adult patients.