What is Tetralogy Of Fallot

Tetralogy of Fallot is a congenital heart defect characterized by a combination of four heart abnormalities. It is one of the most common cyanotic heart defects, meaning it causes a decrease in oxygen levels in the blood. The four components of Tetralogy of Fallot include:

1. Ventricular septal defect (VSD): This is a hole in the wall separating the two lower chambers of the heart, known as the ventricles.


2. Pulmonary stenosis: It refers to a narrowing of the pulmonary valve and the main pulmonary artery, which reduces blood flow to the lungs.


3. Right ventricular hypertrophy: The right ventricle becomes thicker and enlarged due to the increased workload caused by the other defects.


4. Overriding aorta: The aorta, the main artery that carries oxygenated blood to the body, is shifted slightly to the right and above the ventricular septal defect.

These abnormalities result in mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood, leading to a bluish discoloration of the skin, lips, and nails (cyanosis). Symptoms may include difficulty breathing, poor weight gain, fatigue, and fainting spells. Surgical intervention is typically required to correct Tetralogy of Fallot and improve blood flow to the lungs.

by Diseasemaps