83 © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019
J. Rhodes et al. (eds.), Exercise Physiology for the Pediatric and Congenital Cardiologist,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-16818-6_14
Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot
Jonathan Rhodes, Alexander R. Opotowsky,
and Mark E. Alexander
Basic Anatomy
The characteristic anatomy of anterior-superior
displacement of the conal septum, resulting in a
malalignment ventricular septal defect and a vari-
able degree of subvalvar, valvar, and supravalvar
pulmonary stenosis, is well known. Tetralogy of
Fallot in fact represents a spectrum of diseases
with multiple important anatomic variations.
Furthermore, there have been substantial changes
in surgical management in the 60 years that have
elapsed since the initial anatomic repair in 1958.
The details of the anatomy and management are
needed to place any exercise result in context.
Specifc details that should be considered include
(but are in no way limited to) age at complete
repair, extent of an infundibulotomy or use of a
conduit, prior shunts, and subsequent surgical
and catheterization management.
Hemodynamics
The hemodynamics of patients with repaired tetral-
ogy of Fallot (rTOF) is often characterized by an
incompetent pulmonary valve and variable degrees
of residual pulmonic stenoses at the subvalvar, val-
var, supravalvar, branch, or peripheral pulmonary
arterial levels. These anatomic abnormalities can
affect the cardiopulmonary response to exercise
and produce alterations in cardiopulmonary exer-
cise testing (CPET) data that refect interesting
physiology with important clinical implications.
Exercise Capacity
Numerous studies have documented that the
exercise capacity of patients with rTOF is often
depressed. This is particularly notable in adults,
J. Rhodes (*)
Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School,
Boston, MA, USA
Department of Cardiology, Boston Children’s
Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
e-mail: jonathan.rhodes@cardio.chboston.org
A. R. Opotowsky
Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School,
Boston, MA, USA
Department of Cardiology, Boston Children’s
Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of
Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston,
MA, USA
Exercise Physiology Laboratory, Department of Cardiology,
Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
e-mail: alexander.opotowsky@cardio.chboston.org
M. E. Alexander
Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School,
Boston, MA, USA
Exercise Physiology, Arrhythmia Service,
Department of Cardiology, Boston Children’s
Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
e-mail: mark.alexander@cardio.chboston.org
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