Abstract

An earlier study of 25 patients who were investigated by radionuclide angiography after a Mustard procedure showed that they had had evidence of right and left ventricular dysfunction at rest and with exercise. Twenty one (mean age 17.0 years (range 13.7-20.6) 11 female patients) of the original 25 patients were followed up a mean of 4.3 years later (mean 14.6 years (range 12.5-16.0) after the procedure). The group means for resting right and left ventricular ejection fraction and exercise response were not significantly different from those reported five years before. Individual changes in values were within the normal variation seen in serial studies. This long term longitudinal follow up of patients after the Mustard operation showed that although some patients still had right and left ventricular dysfunction, resting ventricular function and exercise response remained stable over a five year period. This preservation of cardiac function may contribute to the long term survival of patients after the Mustard procedure.