A surgical procedure for the prevention of complete right bundle branch block following total correction of tetralogy of Fallot.

Complete right bundle branch block (CRBBB) has been reported as the most common sequelae following total correction of tetralogy of Fallot. A review of previous reports and our own experience have led us to believe that it may be related to the fatal ventricular dysrhythmias which often occur during the postoperative follow-up period. Therefore, we have been trying to reduce the incidence of CRBBB, and we describe herein our surgical procedure for the prevention of CRBBB and its results. Of a total 28 consecutive patients who underwent intracardiac repair by this procedure, only 4 (14%) developed surgically induced CRBBB, none of whom developed a left anterior hemiblock. At the time of this report, no severe ventricular arrhythmias have been found in this series during the postoperative follow-up period. These results suggest that our operative procedure is feasible for the prevention of CRBBB. With regard to the relationship between ventricular dysrhythmia and CRBBB, careful observation is necessary throughout the patients' lifetime.