REPEATED REPAIR OF TETRALOGY OF FALLOT - REPORT OF 11 CASES AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Eleven patients underwent late repeated correction of tetralogy of Fal lot in 1991-1993. The previous operation was repair of simple Fallot's tetralogy in seven cases, repair plus transannular patch in one case and repair of tetralogy and pulmonic atresia in three cases. The indic ations for reoperation were residual ventricular septal defect, right ventricular outflow tract (R.V.O.T.) obstraction, residual branch pulm onary artery stenosis, aneurysmal dilatation of R.V.O.T. Patch or comb ination of any of the above. At reoperation these defects were correct ed. The post operative course was uneventful in eight patients. Two re quired mechanical ventilation for 2-3 days, and one underwent another operation for residual branch pulmonary artery stenosis. The functiona l and haemodynamic results were good in ten patients, and one had resi dual distal pulmonary artery stenosis. There were no death during 2 ye ars of follow-up. Repeated correction of tetralogy of Fallot thus had low postoperative morbidity and good haemodynamic results. For the rel atively few patients initially found to have tetralogy of Fallot and p ulmonic atresia, the outcome may be less favorable.