1,000 consecutive children with a cardiac malformation with 26- to 37-year follow-up.

The current status of 997 of 1,000 consecutive children with a cardiac malformation initially evaluated between 1952 and 1963 was determined. Of the 1000, 285 have died and the survivors have been followed up for periods of 26 to 37 years. Six hundred thirty-two are in excellent or good clinical condition, being asymptomatic and without planned need for further treatment. The other 80 have significant abnormalities, although 63 of these have few symptoms. Infective endocarditis occurred in 12 of 10,000 susceptible patient-years, with a lower rate in the past decade. Only 22 of the survivors are currently receiving cardiac medication. These data are derived from a group of patients initially seen during a period of time that cardiac surgery was being developed for congenital heart disease. Thus, the outlook should be even better for children who are currently undergoing treatment.