Tetralogy of Fallot: controversies in early management

Abstract

Management of the cyanotic neonate with tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) remains a challenging condition. Outcomes for single-stage repair of ToF have steadily improved over the past 30 years and the best results have been achieved with repair between 3 and 9 months of age. The traditional management of cyanotic neonates and small infants has been palliation with a Blalock-Taussig shunt, but this continues to carry a significant mortality that has remained relatively constant even in the contemporary series. This has led to the promotion of neonatal complete repair, but analysis of published outcomes would suggest that this also carries significant risk compared to repair at an older age. Low birth weight and small pulmonary arteries (PAs) remain the greatest independent risk factors. Right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) stenting may offer an alternative approach to neonatal repair in high-risk neonates and allow for PA growth and delay of repair until the child reaches a safer age. A stratified approach to early management utilizing RVOT stenting in high-risk cases may lead to better overall outcomes.

Keywords: congenital heart surgery; neonate; pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect (VSD); shunts (Blalock–Taussig).