title: Preservation of the Pulmonary Valve During Early Repair of Tetralogy of Fallot: Surgical Techniques.
abstract: During the last decade interest in preserving pulmonary valve (PV) function has stimulated a few surgeons to apply valve-sparing techniques in repairing tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), with the aim of preserving long-term right ventricular function. Since June 2007, we embarked upon a program for preserving PV function in selected patients during TOF repair. More recently, the introduction of more complex PV plasty techniques allowed us to further extend the applicability of PV preservation techniques. We believe that preservation of PV function during early repair of TOF, by combining different intraoperative surgical maneuvers, can be extended to almost all patients with classic TOF.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric and Congenital Cardiac Surgery Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Vladimiro L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Vida
authors.affiliation: Pediatric and Congenital Cardiac Surgery Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Alvise
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guariento
authors.affiliation: Pediatric and Congenital Cardiac Surgery Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zucchetta
authors.affiliation: Pediatric and Congenital Cardiac Surgery Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Padalino
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Cardiology Unit, Department of Woman and Child's Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Biagio
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Castaldi
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Cardiology Unit, Department of Woman and Child's Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Ornella
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Milanesi
authors.affiliation: Pediatric and Congenital Cardiac Surgery Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy. Electronic address: giovannistellin@unipd.it.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stellin
mesh_terms: D063126:Balloon Valvuloplasty / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018579:Patient Selection; D011664:Pulmonary Valve; D013771:Tetralogy of Fallot / Q000601:surgery*; D016278:Ventricular Function, Right