J.Jpn. Surg. Soc.. 81(9): 898-902, 1980

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Report on the annual meeting

LONG-TERM RESULTS OF PALLIATIVE SURGERY FOR TETRALOGY OF FALLOT

A review of 411 patients with tetralogy of Fallot undergoing palliative operations of Blalock-Taussig in 223, Waterston in 89, Brock in 65, Glenn in 13 and Patts in 5 patients has been made for assessment of indications, complications and long-term results of these procedures. There were 38 operative deaths (8.9%) and 46 late medical deaths (12%).
The symptomatic improvement has remained impressive in the survivors after palliative operations.
But the major late complications in Waterston and Patts shunts have been related to anastomotic chanels which made too large, resulting in corgestive heart failure or in pulmonary hypertension.
Therefore, Blalock-Taussig shunt should be performed as a first choice of these procedures from our reviews of long-term results in these palliative operations. Waterston shunt is limited in only eary infants under 6 months old.

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