Long-term survival in patients with repair of tetralogy of Fallot: 36-year follow-up of 490 survivors of the first year after surgical repair.

Objectives: We sought to analyze risk factors for long-term survival (up to 36 years) after surgical repair of tetralogy of Fallot (TOF).

Background: Survival after repair is excellent, but data >20 years are rare.

Methods: From 1958 to 1977, 658 patients underwent correction of TOF at our institution and were analyzed for survival.

Long-term results of total repair of tetralogy of Fallot in adulthood: 35 years follow-up in 104 patients corrected at the age of 18 or older.

Long-term survival after surgical repair of tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is reported to be excellent if the patients are corrected in childhood. However, age at operation has been demonstrated as an important risk-factor. The aim of our study was to investigate whether adult patients also benefit from surgery.