Total correction of tetralogy of Fallot--retrospective study of early morbidity and mortality.

Records of 165 patients who underwent total correction for Tetralogy of Fallot were analysed for early postoperative morbidity and mortality in the Intensive Care Unit. Eighty three patients (50.3%) had one or more pulmonary complications; 18 (10.9%) developed an infection; 10 (6%) developed acute renal failure requiring peritoneal dialysis; 9 (5.5%) required Total Parenteral Nutrition; there was no intraoperative death, but 6 patients (3.5%) died in the Intensive Care Unit, 4 of them aged < = 24 months. Patients aged < = 24 months at surgery (Group I) showed a significant increase in the incidence of pulmonary complications, infection and longer length of ICU stay compared to those aged > 24 months (Group II). Patients with a bypass time > 120 minutes had significantly more pulmonary complications (63.8%), compared to those < = 120 minutes (34.4%); the longer bypass time group had significantly more pulmonary complications (78%) in patients aged < = 24 months at surgery compared to those aged > 24 months (50%).