Postoperative long-term results in total correction of tetralogy of Fallot: with special reference to method and degree of relief of right ventricular outflow tract obstruction.

Late results were studied in 63 patients who underwent complete repair of tetralogy of Fallot. Mild pulmonary stenosis (PS) was present in 73%, moderate PS in 17% and severe PS in 10% of the patients. When a transannular patch was used, wider enlargement of the pulmonary annulus did not always relate to a decrease in right ventricular pressure and right ventricular to pulmonary artery pressure gradient in the late postoperative period. Pulmonary regurgitation (PR) of grade 2 or less did not relate to the late postoperative hemodynamics and cardiac function. PR of grade 3 or over led to right ventricular and pulmonary artery hypertension, and to increases in right ventricular end-diastolic volume and CTR. PR of grade 4 impaired left ventricular function. PR of grade 3 or over with moderate PS led to elevation in right ventricular end-diastolic pressure. In patients with mild PS and PR of grade 2 or less, late postoperative hemodynamics and cardiac function were excellent. To maintain excellent postoperative hemodynamics and cardiac function, it is imperative to obtain PR of grade 2 or less and to use a procedure which will lead to excellent development of the pulmonary annulus. In conventional procedures using a transannular patch, a CSAI of less than 2.5 cm2/m2 and precise coaptation between the original pulmonary cusp and the cusp mounted on the patch will aid in avoiding significant PR.