[Complete correction of Fallot's tetralogy in infants. Preliminary results].

Complete repair was undertaken in 28 infants with severe forms of tetralogy of Fallot because severe cyanosis or anoxic spells. Age at operation ranged from 8 days to 11 months (mean: 4,4 months). Among the 24 cases without any other intracardiac defect, there were 6 early deaths related in 4 cases to a wrong indication or a technical error. Re-investigation was performed in 14 out of the 18 survivors from 3 weeks to 6 months post-operatively: the result is good in 10 cases, fair in 1 case, and poor in 3 cases requiring twice a reoperation with 1 further death and 1 good final result. More accuracy in selecting the surgical patients and improvement in operative techniques should result in a further decrease of our early mortality rate. Primary complete repair should therefore become a substantial alternative to the palliative shunts which results seem to be hazardous in the more severe types of the defect.