Predicting Factors of Surgical Mortality in Children and Adolescents Undergoing Correction of Tetralogy of Fallot

Abstract

Tetralogy of Fallot is the most common cyanotic congenital disease, with an incidence of 3 cases for every 10,000 live births, and it is responsible for approximately 5% to 7% of all congenital heart diseases. 1 For every 3,600 births, 1 child has the disease, corresponding to 3.5% of cases of congenital heart disease. 2 Congenital heart diseases can be classified as acyanotic or cyanotic. In cyanotic heart diseases, blood from the systemic venous return passes directly from the right to the left heart without passing through the pulmonary circulation, resulting in unsaturation of systemic arterial blood and central cyanosis. 3 Studies have demonstrated a strong association between morbidity in the intensive care unit and intraoperative factors, such as cardiopulmonary bypass time and anoxia time, in addition to the surgical techniques employed. 4 Among the signs and symptoms that can be identified in children with congenital heart disease who are hospitalized