Combined interventional and surgical treatment in pediatric patients with tetralogy of Fallot

 C García Guevara Cardiocentro Pediátrico William Soler Avenida 100 y Perla Altahabana CP 10800. La Habana, Cuba E-mail address: [email protected] ABSTRACT In tetralogy of Fallot with hypoplastic pulmonary arteries, an alternative to avoid palliative surgeries is percutaneous pulmonary valvuloplasty using a balloon catheter. When there are major arteriovenous collaterals producing volume overload of the left chambers, their previous occlusion improves surgical outcomes. Two patients with aorto-pulmonary collaterals, closed in the laboratory of hemodynamics 24 hours before surgery, and two children who underwent pulmonary valve dilation and then surgery, seven and nine months afterwards, respectively, are reported. Mean follow-up was five years without complications. Interventional catheterization techniques before surgery for tetralogy of Fallot are feasible and can help reduce the number of palliations and improve the results of surgical correction of the disease in selected cases.