Catheter-based palliation for infants with tetralogy of Fallot

Background: The optimal management of symptomatic tetralogy of Fallot in neonates and younger infants with unfavourable anatomy is unclear and is further constrained by resource limitations in low and middle income countries. Methods: Retrospective medical record review of infants with tetralogy of Fallot undergoing corrective or palliative procedures between January 2016 and June 2019. Results: The study included 120 infants; of whom 83 underwent primary complete repair, four underwent surgical palliation, and 33 underwent catheter-based palliation, including balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty (n = 18), right ventricular outflow tract stenting (n = 14), and stenting of the patent arterial duct (n = 1). Infants undergoing catheter-based procedures were younger in age (median 32 days; inter-quartile range (IQR) 7-144 versus 210 days; IQR 158-250), with lower baseline saturation (65 ± 12% versus 87 ± 7%) and had smaller pulmonary artery z-scores compared to the complete repair cohort. Follow-up was available for 31/33 (94%) infants (median 7 months [IQR 4-11]) who underwent trans-catheter palliation; 12 underwent complete repair, 10 are well, awaiting repair, eight required further palliation (catheter: 6; surgical: 2), and one died post-discharge from non-cardiac causes. Conclusion: Catheter-based palliation is a safe and effective alternative in infants with tetralogy of Fallot who are at high risk for primary surgical repair.