[Evaluation of the quality of life in adulthood of 158 patients surgically-treated for tetralogy of Fallot].

Open heart correction of tetralogy of Fallot is now carried out in infancy. This operation provides children with the best physical and mental conditions for them to complete their education. Until recently, follow-up had been too short to assess the results of repair during infancy in adults. The object of this study was to evaluate the quality of adult life in the first 158 survivors of this surgery, now aged 19 to 36 years, performed in our department since 1968. Ninety eight per cent of these patients are physically capable of leading a normal life; 24% obtained their "baccalaureate" and hold positions of high professional responsibility; 37% achieved basic education diplomas. Even those who left school without qualifications were usually able to find employment. The number of unemployed is less than that of the same age group in the general population. Thirty per cent are married or live with someone, and twenty five per cent have normal healthy children. The large majority have normal active lives. Thirty per cent play sport regularly as a leisure activity. Notwithstanding, all these patients were operated for severe symptoms. Two thirds had had previous Blalock shunts. Severe and persistent cyanosis is not a sign of anatomic severity of tetralogy of Fallot and does not seem to influence the socio-professional outcome. These results are those of what was considered to be high risk surgery at the time because of the inaccuracy of angiographic diagnosis, the inadequacy of myocardial protection and the chronicity of the anatomo-pathological lesions (average age of operated patients was 8 years).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)