Does right ventricular outflow tract damage play a role in the genesis of late right ventricular dilatation after tetralogy of Fallot repair?

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the relative role of pulmonary insufficiency and right ventricular outflow tract damage in the genesis of late symptoms related to right ventricular dilatation.

Methods: In a retrospective study we compared the late outcomes of patients who had undergone operations known to generate pulmonary insufficiency, namely, transventricular repair of tetralogy of Fallot and pulmonary commissurotomy for isolated pulmonary stenosis.

Results: In our institution, between 1964 and 1984, a total of 44 patients were found to have had an isolated pulmonary commissurotomy and 189 survived a transventricular repair of tetralogy of Fallot.