Resumen

ALVA ESPINOSA, Carlos. Tetralogy of Fallot: Diagnosis and treatment update. Rev. Mex. Cardiol [online]. 2013, vol.24, n.2, pp.87-93. ISSN 0188-2198.

Tetralogy of Fallot is the best known and most treated complex congenital heart disorder. The first palliative surgery in a patient with tetralogy of Fallot was performed almost seven decades ago. In this time period specialists have established the long-term results of different surgical techniques and allowed the medical and surgical teams to introduce modifications, particularly the complete correction performed between 6 and 12 months of life versus the two-stage approach. The technological advances in diagnostic, surgical and postsurgical tools have also improved the results. Today 90% of children diagnosed with tetralogy of Fallot are expected to survive to 30 after the surgical correction, many of them leading a normal life. However, the requirement for further surgical interventions, late cardiac complications, including arrhythmias, and sudden death are unsolved problems. This article reviews the historic aspects and the evolution of the surgical criteria in tetralogy of Fallot, current results and controversies, the implantable defibrillator, the role of interventional cardiology and future directions.

Palabras llave : Tetralogy of Fallot; Mexico; history; diagnosis; surgical approach.