Valve-Sparing Options in Tetralogy of Fallot Surgery

• Published in: Seminars in thoracic and cardiovascular surgery. Pediatric cardiac surgery annual Vol. 15; no. 1; pp. 24 - 26
• Main Author: Bacha, Emile
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 2012
• Subjects: Cardiothoracic Surgery; Catheterization; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Patient Selection; Pediatrics; Pulmonary Valve - pathology; Pulmonary Valve - physiopathology; Pulmonary Valve - surgery; Pulmonary Valve Insufficiency - etiology; Pulmonary Valve Insufficiency - pathology; Pulmonary Valve Insufficiency - prevention & control; Pulmonary Valve Stenosis - etiology; Pulmonary Valve Stenosis - pathology; Pulmonary Valve Stenosis - prevention & control; Tetralogy of Fallot - complications; Tetralogy of Fallot - diagnosis; Tetralogy of Fallot - surgery
• ISSN: 1092-9126
• DOI: 10.1053/j.pcsu.2012.01.006

Given late outcomes of patients with tetralogy of Fallot repaired in the 1970s and 1980s, as well as a better understanding of the late deleterious effects of pulmonary regurgitation, there is a tendency toward preservation of the pulmonary valve function during primary repair of tetralogy of Fallot. The bar keeps moving downward, to include smaller and more dysmorphic pulmonary valves. This article reviews some useful indications and techniques for valve-sparing options, including intraoperative balloon dilation and cusp reconstruction using a patch. Just like other valve repair techniques, no one technique can be applied uniformly, and surgeons must master a wide armamentarium of techniques.