Thirty-year electrocardiographic follow-up after repair of tetralogy of Fallot or atrial septal defect

Background and PurposeKnowledge about long-term electrocardiographic changes after surgery for congenital heart disease is limited.MethodsEleven patients with corrected tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) and 14 with corrected atrial septal defect (ASD) were followed up at 20 and 30 years after surgery.ResultsApproximately 50% of the ASD group developed prolonged QRS duration. In the ToF group, 7 increased QRS duration by more than 20 milliseconds. Nearly all had right bundle-branch block, and 30% of them also had bifascicular block. Two in the ASD group developed first grade atrioventricular block. Five ASD and 6 ToF had prolonged corrected QT duration in the late postoperative phase.ConclusionsEven after primarily good results of surgery in congenital heart disease, unknown late effects may occur not only in complex lesions such as ToF but also after ASD correction. Regular medical checkups are important after surgical correction in congenital heart disease.