Risk factors for late right ventricular systolic dysfunction in pediatric patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot

To evaluate independent risk factors for late right ventricular systolic dysfunction after correction of Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) in a single-centre, retrospective and observational clinical trial.Patients less than 3 years of age who underwent correction of TOF and subsequently routine clinical follow-up of more than 36 months were included in this study and were divided either into an experimental group (right ventricular systolic dysfunction) or a control group (normal right ventricular systolic function) according to the tricuspid annular peak systolic velocity (TAPSV) value measured by pulsed wave-tissue Doppler imaging (pulsed wave-TDI). The relevant data of all selected patients were investigated and analyzed. From January 2012 to December 2012, a total of 113 consecutive eligible patients were enrolled in this study and were divided either into an experimental group (n = 41) or control group (n = 72). Through univariate analysis and subsequent logistic regression, low preoperative arterial oxygen saturation (OR = 1.66, 95%CI 1.22-4.58, P = 0.0163), age less than 6 months at the time of surgery (OR = 3.45, 95%CI 1.87-9.17, P = 0.0021), and transannular patch (OR = 2.15, 95%CI 1.31-5.38, P = 0.0015) were 3 independent risk factors for late right ventricular systolic dysfunction after correction of TOF.This clinical trial suggested low preoperative arterial oxygen saturation was associated with late right ventricular systolic dysfunction after correction of TOF, and appropriate age at the time of surgery and selection of a proper surgical method to reconstruct the right ventricular outflow tract contributed to improving late right ventricular systolic function in pediatric patients with repaired TOF.