RESUMEN
Records of 165 patients who underwent total correction for Tetralogy of Fallot were analysed for early postoperative morbidity and mortality in the Intensive Care Unit. Eighty three patients [50.3%] had one or more pulmonary complications; 18 [10.9%] developed an infection; 10 [6%] developed acute renal failure requiring peritoneal dialysis; 9 [5.5%] required Total Parenteral Nutrition; there was no intraoperative death, but 6 patients [3.5%] died in the Intensive Care Unit, 4 of them aged = 24 months. Patients aged = 24 months at surgery [Group I] showed a significant increase in the incidence of pulmonary complications, infection and longer length of ICU stay compared to those aged > 24 months [Group II]. Patients with a bypass time > 120 minutes had significantly more pulmonary complications [63.8%], compared to those < = 120 minutes [34.4%]; the longer bypass time group had significantly more pulmonary complications [78%] in patients aged < = 24 months at surgery compared to those aged > 24 months [50%]