At what age should tetralogy of Fallot be corrected?

ABSTRACT

Tetralogy of Fallot can be corrected with very low mortality at any age, even in neonates, but this does not necessarily mean that it should be corrected in the neonatal period. Although there are many advantages to early correction, a high proportion of these neonates have residual stenosis or pulmonary regurgitation that impairs ventricular function and may require further surgery or implantation of a pulmonary valve. Before we had the ability to correct this anomaly with low mortality in small children, a variety of palliative procedures had to be performed. Today, with better understanding of the anatomy of tetralogy of Fallot, we should consider what forms of palliation will increase growth of the right ventricular outflow tract in order to reduce the complications of very early surgery.