[Surgery of congenital heart defects in adulthood]

During the period between 1983-1989 the authors operated 165 patients with the diagnosis of coarctation of the aorta, 197 cases of patent ductus arteriosus and 360 atrial septal defects. In all diagnostic groups they operated a large number of patients above 10 years of age whereby the oldest patient with a septal defect was 57 years old, patients with coarctation of the aorta or a patent ductus arteriosus 35 years old. The authors discuss the reasons why the patients were indicated for operation so late.