Tetralogy of Fallot associated with aortic insufficiency

Five patients with tetralogy of Fallot associated with aortic insufficiency were studied. They ranged from 6 to 34 years old (mean, 14 years), and 2 patients had a history of subacute bacterial endocarditis. Four patients had a bulboventricular type of ventricular septal defect. Prolapse of the right coronary cusp was the main cause of aortic insufficiency. Deformed valve secondary to subacute bacterial endocarditis and severe dilatation of the aortic annulus were the other causes. In addition to repair of the tetralogy defect, aortic valvuloplasty was performed in 2 patients. In the remaining 3 patients, the ventricular septal defect was closed with a relatively small-sized patch and no aortotomy was made. Four patients survived the operation, and no residual aortic insufficiency was observed in 3 of them. The etiology and the method of operation are discussed.