Valve-sparing repair with skeletonization of the pulmonary annulus for tetralogy of Fallot

Abstract

Pulmonary valve preservation in tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) repair is one of the most challenging issues. Herein, we describe a novel valve-sparing technique for TOF repair that primarily consists of skeletonization of the anterior part of the pulmonary annulus and gentle dilatation by preserving the pulmonary valve and annulus integrity. With encouraging early results, this technique is suggested to prevent severe pulmonary regurgitation and provide acceptable relief of pulmonary stenosis in patients with TOF.