Longevity in the setting of tetralogy of Fallot: survival to the 84th year

Abstract

A patient with tetralogy of Fallot suffered minimal disability until the age of 45 years, when she developed bacterial endocarditis complicated by hemiplegia. She remained well, but became markedly polycythaemic and, at the age of 50 years, underwent surgical correction to reduce the risk of further thromboembolic incidents. She continued in remarkably good health until her death from lobar pneumonia in her 84th year. We present the post-mortem findings, since as far as we are aware this is the longest recorded survivorship of a patient with tetralogy of Fallot.