[Long-term follow-up (20 to 25 years) of tetralogy of Fallot after correction].

Eighty patients with tetralogy of Fallot who underwent corrective surgery between 1965 and 1970 were followed and evaluated. Late death was observed in 8 patients, and 3 of them were cardiac deaths. The survival rate at 10-year was 96.2%, at 20-year was 91.7%, and at 24-year was 89.0%. Of the surviving patients, 78% to 85% are spending normal social life. Twenty female patients experienced 31 deliveries, and no babies with cardiac anomaly were born. Most of the complaints come from late arrhythmias, and this is the main problem in the long-term period. Right ventricular function is considered to be moderately reduced by catheter analysis. The importance of preservation of right ventricular function during the surgery should be stressed.