Lung function and cardiopulmonary exercise capacity in patients with corrected tetralogy of Fallot.
BACKGROUND
Since surgical repair of tetralogy of Fallot was introduced, follow-up studies have shown that the majority of patients lead active lives and have no subjective exercise limitation.


OBJECTIVE
To examine lung function, cardiopulmonary functional capacity and echo-Doppler assessment of pulmonary pressure in adult patients 20 years after repair of TOF.


METHODS
Unselected consecutive patients performed full lung function testing, progressive cardiopulmonary exercise, and echo-Doppler assessments of pulmonary pressure.


RESULTS
Fifty consecutive patients (33 men, 17 women) aged 29 +/- 11 years who underwent surgical repair of TOF at age 10.1 +/- 10.9 years were enrolled. Patients after TOF showed no restriction (forced expiratory vital capacity 80%, total lung capacity 91%) and had normal oxygen saturation (97%) and 6 minute walking distance (600 meters). Echocardiography showed normal pulmonary pressure and left ventricular ejection function (62%). Cardiopulmonary exercise testing showed mild limitation of exercise capacity with oxygen uptake at maximal effort of 75-78% predicted.


CONCLUSIONS
After corrections of TOF the study patients had normal lung function and pulmonary arterial pressure but mild limitation in their exercise capacity.
Izbicki
Gabriel
G
Institute of Pulmonology, Shaare Zedek Medical Center and Hebrew University Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel.
Fink
Gershon
G
Algom
Avi
A
Hirsch
Rafael
R
Blieden
Leonard
L
Klainman
Eliezer
E
Picard
Elie
E
Goldberg
Shmuel
S
Kramer
Mordechai R
MR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005080:Exercise Test; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D013771:Tetralogy of Fallot / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*