Bisoprolol treatment for cyanotic spells - A 69-year-old female with uncorrected Pentalogy of Fallot

Pentalogy of Fallot is a rare cyanotic congenital heart disease characteriz ed by biventricular origin of the aorta above a large ventricular septal de fect, obstruction of the pulmonary outflow, right ventricular hypertrophy ( tetralogy of Fallot), and an atrial septal defect. Mortality due to syncope , arrhythmia or congestive heart failure is about 75% by the age of 10 year s and 97% by the age of 40. We report a 69-year old female with uncorrected pentalogy of Fallot who suffered from recurrent syncope during classic cya notic spells. Treatment with bisoprolol is recommended in symptomatic child ren and also improved symptoms in our patient. We conclude that single pati ents with pentalogy of Fallot reach the seventh decade and that cyanotic co ngenital heart disease is a rare cause of syncope in the elderly.