[Immediate and late arrhythmia in patients operated on for tetralogy of Fallot].

UNLABELLED: Arrhythmias are a frequent complication after repair of tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). We present our experience with 97 patients with special consideration for early and late hyperkynetic arrhythmias. The most frequent, 4% of the patients, was in junctional tachycardia. Late arrhythmias can be atrial or ventricular. The incidence of ventricular arrhythmias in the literature range from 42 to 82%. In the Authors experience multiforme ventricular ectopy was present in 80% of the patients, 20 years after surgery. We suggest an exercise test and averaging ECG in all the patients. Thirty six percent of patients with supraventricular tachycardia were symptomatic.

CONCLUSION

as the incidence of arrhythmias after correction of TOF is high, it is very important to periodically reassess these patients. Antiarrhythmic treatment is indicated in all symptomatic patients, especially in those with major arrhythmias (SVT, AF and VT).