Abstract
Total correction for tetralogy of Fallot in adolescents and adults is an uncommon practice, since this malformation is almost always corrected during early childhood period. Total correction performed in the late age group bears some disadvantages like fibrotic and calcific changes in some adult hearts and the ill effects of the long standing presence of palliative shunts in some cases. Although the old age carries some risk compared to early childhood, the mortality rate in this age group is within acceptable limits (8-15 %).
It is concluded that the advanced age should not be a contrindication for total correction of tetralogy of Fallot.
Copyright and license
Copyright © 1980 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
