It’s a congenital heart defect that is characterized by 4 structural defects
1. Right ventricular hypertrophy
2. Aorta displacement
3. Pulmonary stenosis
4. Septal defect (ventricular)
Risk Factors
- A viral illness during pregnancy, such as rubella
- Drinking alcohol during pregnancy
- Poor nutrition during pregnancy
- A mother older than age 40
- A parent who has tetralogy of Fallot
- The presence of Down syndrome in the baby
Symptoms
| Cyanosis Shortness of breath and rapid breathing Poor weight gain Irritability Prolonged crying Heart murmur Fainting Clubbing | |
| • Tet spells |
Treatment
▪ Open-heart surgery is usually done during the first year after birth and involves several repairs.
▪ Shunt surgery
▪ Arrhythmias are common after surgery.
▪ Aprostadil (prostaglandin E)
Complications
- Chronic pulmonary regurgitation
- Leaking tricuspid valve
- Ventricular septal defects that may continue to leak after repairor may need re-repair
- Enlarged right ventricle or left ventricle that isn’t workingproperly
- Arrhythmias
- Coronary artery disease
- Enlargement of the ascending aorta
Diagnosis
• Pulse oximetry.
• Echocardiogram.
• Chest X-ray. (boot-shaped heart, because the right ventricle is enlarged)