[Tetralogy of Fallot: long term results]

The experience of the Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Service of the Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center with the surgical correction of Tetralogy of Fallot was reviewed. This includes 444 patients operated on between 1960 and 1975. The operatory mortality was 5.6%. The major cause of death was related to a decreased cardiac output. The postoperatory mortality is minimal (2.9%) and reoperations are rarely necessary. The 91.3% of the patients presented right bundle branch block in the immediate postoperatory period and 8.7% was accompanied by left anterior hemiblock. All of these patients are clinically well and to not present syncopal crisis or signs of AV block. 145 patients (33%) were re-catheterized in the late postoperative period. The hemodynamic results and the clinical evaluation show that in 85.6% of these cases the results obtained are from "Good to Excellent".