Prenatal diagnosis, management, and outcomes of fetuses with tetralogy of Fallot in China after prenatal counseling: a prospective cohort study

Abstract

Objective: The study aimed to monitor fetuses with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) after prenatal counseling and how it influenced the decision of parents to terminate the pregnancy. Methods: Fetuses with isolated TOF diagnosed between January 2019 and December 2021 were prospectively enrolled. The follow-up period extended until termination or 6 months after the operation. Results: Of the 1,026 fetuses diagnosed with cardiac defects, 129 were identified to have isolated TOF and completed the follow-up. A total of 55 (42.6%) fetuses were terminated, with larger maternal age (odds ratio: 0.893, 95% confidence interval: 0.806–0.989, P = 0.031) as the protective factor. The maternal anxiety score, gestational weeks, and pulmonary-to-aortic-diameter ratio lost significance in multivariate analysis. Subjectively, the two most common reasons for terminating the pregnancy were worries about the prognosis (41.8%) and concerns about the possible suffering of the unborn child (18.2%). The prenatal diagnosis was accurate in 73 of the 74 (98.6%) live births. Out of the 64 live births that underwent surgical repair in our center, 57 (89.1%) received primary repair, with a median age of 104 days, and 49 (76.6%) underwent valve-sparing repair. No perioperative death occurred. Conclusions: Termination for fetuses with TOF remains common in China. Live births with TOF can be safely and effectively managed.