Objectives: This study was undertaken to assess the early and long-term results of total repair of tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) and to identify the risk factors associated with late right ventricular (RV) dilatation.
Methods: The medical records of 326 patients (male:female = 192:134) who underwent total repair of TOF at Pusan National and Dong-A University Hospitals between July 1991 and May 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. Median age and weight at the time of operation were 13.0 months and 8.7 kg, respectively. Right ventricular end-diastolic dimensions and left ventricular end-diastolic dimensions were obtained during follow-up echocardiography to identify the risk factors associated with late RV dilatation.
Results: There were one operative death (0.3%) and 8 late deaths (2.5%). Of late deaths, two were related to operation-related cardiac problems. Overall survival rates at 5, 10, and 15 years were 97.0%, 95.4%, and 95.4%, and the corresponding freedom from cardiac death were 98.8%, 98.8%, and 98.8%, respectively. Freedom from re-operation and re-intervention were 84.4%, 74.2% and 74.2%. Six patients underwent pulmonary valve replacement during the follow-up period. Transannular patch (P = 0.036) and postoperative ventilator support period (P < 0.001) were found to be significant risk factors of late RV dilatation in multivariate analysis.
Conclusions: Total correction of TOF can be performed with a very low mortality rate. However, the postoperative re-operation or re-intervention rates remain relatively high. Late RV dilatation after total repair of TOF was found to be associated with transannular patch enlargement and a longer postoperative ventilator support period.
Keywords: Congenital heart disease; Pulmonary regurgitation; Pulmonary valve replacement; Right ventricular dysfunction; Tetralogy of Fallot.