FREQUENCY OF COMPLETE HEART BLOCK IN PATIENTS AFTER TOTAL CORRECTION OF TETRALOGY OF FALLOT

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Tetralogy of Fallot is diagnosed in approximately 3.5% of patients who have congenital heart defects. The condition consists of ventricular septal defect (VSD), overriding aorta, right ventricular (RV) outflow tract obstruction, and RV hypertrophy. Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is the most common congenital cyanotic heart disease with an incidence of three per 10,000 live births, and accounts for about 5-7% of all congenital heart disease.Objective of this study was to determine the frequency of complete heart block in patients after total correction of tetralogy of fallot. 
METHODS: This descriptive cross sectional study was conducted at Cardiovascular, Surgery, Lady Reading Hospital,Peshawar from 8/10/2015 to 8/10/2016 in which a total of 222 cases were observed. All patients with tetralogy of fallot scheduled for total correction, aged 5-25 years. Surgical repair was done on all included children by single expert cardiac surgeon having minimum of five years of experience. All the patients were followed up regularly till 9th day and electrocardiograms (ECG) were done in all patients to confirm complete heart block (CHB). All information was recorded into a proforma especially designed for this purpose. 
RESULTS: Mean age was 2.97 years with SD equal to ± 01.89. Fifty eight percent patients were male while 42% patients were female. The frequency of complete heart block was found to be 3%. 
CONCLUSION: Our study concludes that with careful surgical technique, total correction of fallot’s tetralogy can be conducted in children and young adults, with a very low risk of complete hearth block and other conduction abnormalities. 
KEYWORDS: Complete heart lock, Total correction, Tetralogy of Fallot.