Aorta Dilatation in Unrepaired Tetralogy of Fallot

Abstract

BackgroundAortic root dilation is an increasingly recognized feature in repaired tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) patients. However, the dilation at the aortic root and ascending aorta in unrepaired TOF is rarely studied. This study aims to confirm whether aortic dilation is a common feature in unrepaired TOF and investigate the factors attributed to aortic dilation. MethodologyPatients with an echocardiographic diagnosis of TOF undergoing computed tomography angiography were retrospectively studied. Diameters and z scores of aortic annular (Ao1), aortic sinotubular junction (Ao2), ascending aorta (Ao3), and distal transverse aortic arch (Ao4) were measured. Preoperative body surface area (BSA), hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (HCT), arterial oxygen saturation (SaO 2 ), and platelet (PLT) count were recorded. ResultsA total of 101 TOF patients aged 6.8 ± 9.5 years were included in this study, whose mean BSA (m 2 ), Hb (g/L),