Surgery for Congenital Heart Disease in the Adult

A total of 205 adults with a variety of congenital heart lesions underwent operation for total correction of their defects. Operative and long-term mortality were 3 and 4 percent, respectively. There has been only one operative death in the past five years (85 patients). While most defects were repaired with good hemodynamic and symptomatic improvement, the three lesions associated with the worst results were cyanotic tetralogy of Fallot, severe pulmonic stenosis complicated by atrial septal defect, and ostium primum atrial septal defect. Myocardial failure due to end-stage myocardial fibrosis was the major cause of operative mortality. Myocardial fibrosis and irreversible pulmonary changes seemed to be the two factors limiting operative correction. An aggressive operative approach seems justified based on this study.