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BACKGROUND: Until now, the total correction of tetralogy of Fallot has remained controversial and the efficacy of balloon dilatation of the pulmonary valves in tetralogy of Fallot has not been confirmed. We tried balloon dilatation of the pulmonary valves in 9 patients with tetralogy of Fallot to evaluate its effect on oxygen saturation and pulmonary arterial growth. METHOD: In nine patients with tetralogy of Fallot was undergone balloon dilatation since 1992 until August in 1999. Before starting the procedure, we measured the diameters of the pulmonary annulus, both pulmonary arteries and descending aorta. Systemic oxygen saturation and shunt amount were also measured before and after the procedure and systemic oxygen saturation two months later. RESULTS: The mean value of the pulmonary annulus diameters was 5.36+/-1.12 mm and their z value was -4.0+/-1.4. The systemic oxygen saturation increased from a mean value of 64.0+/-19.6% to 82.4+/-8.4% right after the balloon dilatation and 82.0+/-7.9% two months later. McGoon ratio increased from a mean value of 1.66+/-0.33 before the procedure to 1.91+/-0.37 two months later. The mean value of shunt amount(Qp/Qs) was 0.52 before the procedure and 0.84 immediately after the procedure. Furthermore, there occurred no significant complication during and after the procedure. CONCLUSION: The balloon dilatation of the pulmonary valves in tetralogy of Fallot seems relatively safe and produces an immediate effect on cyanosis. And the procedure improves the growth of pulmonary arteries. However, further research and evaluation are needed.
Aorta, Thoracic ; Cyanosis ; Dilatation* ; Humans ; Oxygen ; Pulmonary Artery ; Pulmonary Valve* ; Tetralogy of Fallot