Surgery insight: late complications following repair of tetralogy of Fallot and related surgical strategies for management

Nat Clin Pract Cardiovasc Med. 2006 Nov;3(11):611-22. doi: 10.1038/ncpcardio0682.

Abstract

Biventricular correction of tetralogy of Fallot was devised more than 50 years ago. Current short-term outcomes are excellent. The potential for late complications is, however, an important concern for the growing number of postrepair survivors. Progressive pulmonary valve regurgitation leading to right heart failure and arrhythmia are centrally important problems faced by these patients. New techniques are, however, likely to change the future outcomes for postrepair survivors. These techniques include percutaneous valve replacement, arrhythmia ablation surgery, and strategies that emphasize preservation of the pulmonary valve even at the cost of leaving some residual valvular stenosis. The objectives of this Review are to outline the major complications that arise late after repair of tetralogy of Fallot, to describe the surgical approaches that have been developed to avoid and manage arising complications, and to briefly explore how novel treatment paradigms could change the future long-term outlook for patients following tetralogy repair.

Publication types

  • Historical Article
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aortic Valve Insufficiency / etiology*
  • Aortic Valve Insufficiency / surgery
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac / etiology*
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac / surgery
  • Cardiac Surgical Procedures* / adverse effects
  • Cardiac Surgical Procedures* / history
  • Cardiac Surgical Procedures* / mortality
  • History, 20th Century
  • Humans
  • Pulmonary Valve Insufficiency / etiology*
  • Pulmonary Valve Insufficiency / surgery
  • Survival Analysis
  • Tetralogy of Fallot / mortality
  • Tetralogy of Fallot / surgery*
  • Time Factors