Anomalous coronary artery in Tetralogy of Fallot-Feasibility of right ventricular outflow tract stenting as initial palliation

This study addresses the outcome of right ventricle outflow tract (RVOT) stenting in Tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) with anomalous coronaries crossing the RVOT. RVOT stenting in ToF patients has emerged as an alternative to Blalock Taussig shunting. This is a single center study of patients who underwent RVOT stenting for symptomatic ToF at Birmingham Children's Hospital between 2005 and 2020. A total of 122 patients underwent RVOT stenting as initial palliation over a 15-year period, 10 patients had anomalous coronaries crossing the RVOT (study group) and 112 not (comparative group). Median age of the study group was 72.5 days (interquartile range [IQR]: 28-103) with a weight of 4.7 kg (IQR: 3.5-4.9). No significant differences were found between the two groups regarding the patients' weights and ages, procedure and screening times, or hospital stay. Four had valve sparing stenting. Oxygen saturations increased from a median of 75.5% (IQR: 70-82) to 94.5% (IQR: 90-95), p < 0.002. Postprocedure median hospital stay was 3 days (IQR: 2-6). Six patients underwent interstage catheterization reintervention and one needed early surgical palliation due to stent suboptimal position. Complete repair could be delayed for a median of 11.1 months (IQR: 5.6-19.2). At surgical repair, the patients had a median age of 12.3 months (IQR: 7.5-25.6) and weight of 7.7 kg (IQR: 6.8-10.8). There were no deaths. RVOT stenting in ToF with anomalous coronaries is safe and effective. Dilatable stents should be used when two-stage delayed conduit repair is the default approach.