The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 28, 239-251, Copyright © 1979 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Late right heart reconstruction following repair of tetralogy of Fallot
DC Miller, SJ Rossiter, EB Stinson, PE Oyer, BA Reitz and NE Shumway
Twenty-two symptomatic patients underwent a total of 28 reoperative
procedures after initial surgical repair of tetralogy of Fallot. Sixteen of
the patients were considered to have unfavorable anatomy of the right
ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) or pulmonary artery at the time of initial
repair. Pulmonary or tricuspid valve replacement, or replacement of both
valves, utilizing a xenograft bioprosthesis was performed in 1 of the 22
initial repairs, 7 of the 22 first reoperations, and 5 of the 6 second
reoperations. Ultimately, 14 patients received transannular RVOT patches.
The interval between the first and second reoperations for 6 patients who
required 2 late reconstructive procedures was 5.8 years. No operative
deaths occurred. There were 2 late deaths (1 sudden and 1 due to
aspiration). Actuarial survival probability (+/- standard error of the
mean) 16 years after initial repair was 72 +/- 21%. Eighteen of the 20
current survivors in the present series are completely asymptomatic without
physical restrictions; the other 2 are considered to be in New York Heart
Association Functional Class II. No xenograft bioprosthetic dysfunction has
occurred to date, but cumulative valve follow-up is limited (13
patient-years). In selected patients, earlier pulmonary or tricuspid valve
replacement or replacement of both of these valves can provide some degree
of protection against recurrent deterioration.