Right ventriculotomy might be related to late ventricular arrhythmias after surgical correction of Tetralogy of Fallot. This paper presents the incidence of late ventricular arrhythmias comparing groups submitted or not to a ventriculotomy. From 1988 to 1995, 238 patients were consecutively operated upon, 28 by atrial approach exclusively (Group A) and 210 uncluding a right ventriculotomy (Group V). There were no significant differences regarding to age, sex, weight, height or body surface area. There been no previous selection for the approach. Fallow-up time was 45 ± 22 months for Group A and 33 ± 24 months for Group V (NS). The incidence of atrioventricular block and arrhythmias were studied by conventional ambulatory EKG. Group A presented no transient or permanent AV block, while there have been 7% transient and 2% permanent AV block in Group V (NS). Supraventricular arrhythmias were 17,4% in Group A and 12,0% in Group V (NS). There have been no relation between arrhythmias and ventriculotomy. This might suggest that atrial approach, avoiding ventriculotomy, does not prevent late ventricular arrhythmias.
Arrhythmia; Tetralogy of Fallot; Heart ventricle; Heart atrium; Tetralogy of Fallot
