[The tetralogy of Fallot: surgical treatment. 145 cases (author's transl)]

1. The overall operative risk for the palliative procedures for Tetralogy was 3,2% (93 cases). The Blalock-Taussig shunt remains the intervention of choice in older children. The Waterston shunt gives optimal results in the infants under six months of age but on long term the hasard of pulmonary hypertension still exists. 2. Before 1965, the mortality rate for the total repair was 43,7% (16 cases). During the last 8 years, the mortality rate decreased to 5,7% (36 cases). One operative death after total correction with a Potts shunt is not included in this figure. This type of shunt was replaced by the Waterston shunt after 1966, because of the high operative risk total correction and the high frequency of pulmonary hypertension on long term. 3. The long-term results were excellent in 85% of the survivors (mean follow-up of 4,1 years). A pulmonary insufficiency was found on clinical examination in 35% of the cases. This insufficiency was well tolerated by all patients. The long-term consequences, however, are uncertain. 4. It seams rational to proceed to an earlier total correction in these cases when well defined criteria are fullfilled, as the mortality figures of the palliative and corrective procedures have a tendency to reach each other: (3,2 versus 5,7%).