[Reoperation after corrective surgery for tetralogy of Fallot]

Thirty-two of 460 patients (6.9%) who had corrective surgery for tetralogy of Fallot in our institute between January, 1955 and March, 1994 required intracardiac reoperation. The indications for reoperation included residual lesions alone or combination of other lesions. The reoperation consisted of a new patch or direct closure of a residual ventricular septal defect in 28 (73%), reconstruction of a residual pulmonary stenosis in 18 (47%) and pulmonary regurgitation in 6 (16%), repair of tricuspid regurgitation in 11 (29%), recurrent infective endocarditis in 5 (13%), repair of a left ventricle-right atrium communication in 4 (11%). Six patients (19%) had required second reoperation of recurrent infective endocarditis in 3, other three patients required the repair of tricuspid valve disease. There were one operative death (3%) in reoperation and one death (17%) in second reoperation. Three patients (9%) died at follow-up periods of 1-21 years (mean of 9.6 years). Twenty-seven patients (84%) survived operation and 24 (89%) are now in NYHA class I and 3 patients are in class II. Reoperation after correction of tetralogy of Fallot is able to perform with low mortality and with excellent long-term results.