Long-term outcomes in adults with repaired tetralogy of Fallot and pulmonary atresia

Cardiol Young. 2019 Aug;29(8):1078-1081. doi: 10.1017/S1047951119001598. Epub 2019 Jul 10.

Abstract

Background: There are limited outcome data in adults with tetralogy of Fallot and pulmonary atresia. The purpose of this study was to describe re-operations and all-cause mortality in adults with tetralogy of Fallot and pulmonary atresia.

Methods: Retrospective review of adults with repaired tetralogy of Fallot and pulmonary atresia who received care at the Mayo Adult Congenital Heart Disease Clinic, 1990-2016. All-cause mortality was calculated as events per 100 patient-years from the time of first presentation to the Adult Congenital Heart Disease Clinic.

Results: Of the 221 patients, the age at initial tetralogy of Fallot repair was 6 (5-13) years, and the age at first presentation to the clinic was 27 - 8 years. All patients had at least one right ventricular to pulmonary artery conduit re-operation. There were 31 deaths (14%) at mean age of 41 - 14 years. The causes of death were end-stage heart failure (n = 17), sudden cardiac death (n=9), post-operative death after cardiac surgery (n = 2), sepsis with multi-system organ failure (n = 2), and unknown (n = 1). All-cause mortality rate was 1.7 per 100 patient-years. The risk factors for all-cause mortality were older age (>12 years) at the time of repair (hazard ratio 1.41, 95 confidence interval 1.06-2.02, p = 0.033), non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (hazard ratio 1.36, 95 confidence interval 1.17-2.47, p = 0.015), and left ventricular ejection fraction <50% (hazard ratio 1.39, 95 confidence interval 1.08-2.31, p = 0.031).

Conclusion: Based on a review of 221 adults with repaired tetralogy of Fallot and pulmonary atresia, all patients had re-operations and all-cause mortality rate was 1.7 events per 100 patient-years. The current study provides important outcomes data for risk stratification in adults with tetralogy of Fallot and pulmonary atresia.

Keywords: Tetralogy of Fallot; mortality; pulmonary atresia; re-operation.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cardiac Surgical Procedures / adverse effects*
  • Cardiac Surgical Procedures / mortality
  • Cause of Death
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Minnesota / epidemiology
  • Pulmonary Artery / surgery
  • Pulmonary Atresia / mortality
  • Pulmonary Atresia / surgery*
  • Reoperation / statistics & numerical data
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors
  • Tetralogy of Fallot / mortality
  • Tetralogy of Fallot / surgery*
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Ventricular Function, Left
  • Young Adult