Exercise capacity, residual abnormalities and activity habits following total correction for tetralogy of Fallot.

The maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max) of 68 patients, at a mean of 5.6 years after total correction for tetralogy of Fallot, was lower than that of normal subjects (36.3 +/- 7.5 and 43.1 +/- 9.0 ml/kg-min). At the time of treadmill evaluation only the female patients were less active in daily life than the normals. Patients having had an elevated right ventricle to pulmonary artery resting systolic pressure gradient, evaluated at a mean of 2.2 years after surgery, had lower VO2 max than those with lesser residual gradients (34.7 +/- 7.2 and 38 +/- 7.3 ml/kg-min). No significant differences in VO2 max were found between patients with none or slight versus moderate to severe pulmonary regurgitation as well as between patients with and without a residual left-to-right ventricular shunt.