Abstract

INTRODUCTION

The present study aimed to evaluate the association between the equations indicating the pulmonary artery development prior to total correction in patients diagnosed with Tetralogy of Fallot,such as McGoon ratio,Nakata index and pulmonary artery Z score and the course of aortic arch,the presence/absence of accompanying PFO and the patient’s gender.

METHODS

The study included 100 cases who had diagnostic angiography before the total correction surgery with the diagnosis of Tetralogy of Fallot between January 2003 and January 2011. The study retrospectively evaluated the left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDd), the presence of PFO and the course of aortic arch as obtained by echocardiography, and the McGoon ratio, Nakata index and pulmonary artery Z scores as measured by angiography.

RESULTS

Of the patients, 72% were male and 28% were female. The median age was 21 months (min: 4,max: 228) and the birth weight was 2960±550 gram. The left aortic arch dominance (77%) was observed. LVEDd was below normal in 18% of the patients. The rate was 23% for PFO, 4% for coronary abnormality, 3% for MAPCA and 6% for left superior vena cava. Pulmonary artery Z scores were found lower in patients with PFO compared to those without PFO (p<0.05). The course of aortic arch and sex were not different among the patients.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

The presence of PFO may affect pulmonary artery Z scores in cases with Tetralogy of Fallot. On the other hand, we believe that the course of aortic arch and sex are not among factors affecting pulmonary artery development before total correction surgery.