title: Does early tetralogy of Fallot total correction give better final lung volumes?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pulmonary blood flow may affect lung development in adulthood. Early total correction of tetralogy of Fallot may affect development of final lung volumes. We evaluated the effect of age at total correction on lung volumes years after the operation.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a retrospective cohort study on patients with totally corrected tetralogy of Fallot (mean age, 13.40 years at the time of follow-up), forced vital capacity, slow vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 s, and other parameters were measured 154.8 ± 46.25 months after the operation. Comparison were made of 3 groups: ≤2-, 2-8-, and >8-years old at the time of total correction surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 322 enrolled patients, the mean values of the follow-up spirometry results in ≤2-, 2-8-, >8-year-olds and the percentage of predicted values were respectively: vital capacity: 4.46 ± 0.57 L (107% ± 10.96%), 3.89 ± 0.58 L (91.10% ± 12.25%), 3.25 ± 0.48 L (82.35% ± 10.62%), p < 0.001; forced vital capacity: 4.28 ± 0.63 L (95.90% ± 18.77%), 3.76 ± 0.58 L (90.83% ± 12.52%), 3.14 ± 0.49 L (83.26% ± 11.71%), p < 0.001; forced expiratory volume in 1 s: 4.22 ± 0.63 L (104.84% ± 13.64%), 3.66 ± 0.58 L (90.61% ± 12.59%), 3.02 ± 0.48 L (84.31% ± 12%), p < 0.001.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early correction of defects or reestablishments of perfusion of tetralogy of Fallot before completion of lung development might improve final adulthood lung volumes and capacities. It is better to consider total correction for all tetralogy of Fallot patients below 2-years old, or at least below 8-years old, if it is technically possible.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Rajaie Cardiovascular Medical and Research Center, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hasan Allah
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Sadeghi
authors.forename: Seyed Reza
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Miri
authors.forename: Hooman
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bakhshandeh
authors.forename: Yalda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mirmesdagh
authors.forename: Nazita
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Paziraee
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000098:blood supply / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008176:Lung Volume Measurements; D008297:Male; D011652:Pulmonary Circulation; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013147:Spirometry; D013771:Tetralogy of Fallot / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014797:Vital Capacity
keywords: Congenital; follow-up studies; heart defects; pulmonary function tests; spirometry; tetralogy of Fallot