Antegrade palliation for diminutive pulmonary arteries in Tetralogy of Fallot.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcome following palliative reconstruction of right ventricular outflow tract in Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) with diminutive pulmonary arteries with central and peripheral stenosis.

Methods: Between 1986 and 1999 in 15 children with the diagnosis of TOF palliative reconstruction of the right ventricular outflow tract without closure of the ventricular septal defect (VSD) was performed. All patients were not suitable for an AP-Shunt because of a diminutive pulmonary vascular bed.