Ventricular arrhythmias and sudden death in tetralogy of Fallot

Abstract

Malignant ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death may late happen in repaired tetralogy of Fallot, although probably less frequently than previously thought, especially with the advent of new surgical techniques/management. Ventricular tachycardias are caused by reentry around the surgical scars/patches and valves. Many predictive factors have been proposed, which suffer from poor accuracy. There is currently no recommended indication for prophylactic implantable cardioverter defibrillator implantation-except maybe in the case of multiple risk factors-while radiofrequncy ablation may be proposed in secondary prevention with or even without a back-up implantable cardioverter defibrillator in selected cases. Repeated cardiological investigations and monitoring should be proposed for every operated patient.

Keywords: Ablation; Arythmies ventriculaires; Cardiopathie congénitale de l’adulte; GUCH; Mort subite; Sudden death; Tetralogy of Fallot; Tétralogie de Fallot; Ventricular tachycardia.