Aerobic capacity in adults with tetralogy of Fallot.
BACKGROUND
We investigated the aerobic capacity of 168 adult patients who had undergone successful surgical repair of retralogy of Fallot at the University of Toronto Congenital Cardiac Centre for Adults.


METHODS
We compared values of peak uptake of oxygen, peak heart rate, forced vital capacity, and forced expiratory volume in 1 second to predicted values for their age groups.


RESULTS
The patients who had undergone surgical repair of tetralogy of Fallot demonstrated an overall diminished peak uptake of oxygen, at 51%,and peak heart rate, at 79%, compared to predicted values. No difference in peak aerobic capacity was found according to the initial surgical strategy of palliation or repair.


CONCLUSIONS
Adult patients who have undergone surgical repair of tetralogy of Fallot have lower peak uptake of oxygen, and peak heart rate, compared to predicted values. The reduction in the peak heart rate may affect their exercise capacity. The peak uptake of oxygen also decreased with increasing age at the time of testing, and the age at surgical repair.
Fredriksen
Per Morten
PM
University of Toronto Congenital Cardiac Center for Adults, Toronto General Hospital, Heart and Stroke Richard Lewar Centre of Excellence, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. per.morten.fredriksen@rikshospitalet.no
Therrien
Judith
J
Veldtman
Gruschen
G
Ali Warsi
Mohammed
M
Liu
Peter
P
Thaulow
Erik
E
Webb
Gary
G
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000502:physiology; D006334:Heart Function Tests; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009656:North America; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011665:Pulmonary Valve Insufficiency / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013771:Tetralogy of Fallot / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014797:Vital Capacity / Q000502:physiology