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Alternative names Return to top
TET; TOFDefinition Return to top
A type of heart defect present at birth (congenital) consisting of four different abnormalities. It usually results in insufficiently oxygenated blood being pumped to the body causing cyanosis (bluish discoloration of the skin).Causes, incidence, and risk factors Return to top
The cause of most congenital heart defects is unknown. Multiple factors seem to be involved. Prenatal factors associated with higher than normal risk for this condition include maternal rubella or other viral illnesses during pregnancy, poor prenatal nutrition, maternal alcoholism, mother over 40 years old, and diabetes.
There is a higher incidence of tetralogy of Fallot in children with Down syndrome (a common genetic disorder which results from having an extra 21st chromosome).
Tetralogy of Fallot is classified as a cyanotic heart defect because the condition causes insufficiently oxygenated blood to be pumped to the body, which leads to cyanosis (a bluish-purple coloration to the skin).
The classic form of Tetralogy includes 4 defects within the heart structures:
There is flow of deoxygenated (blue) blood into the general body circulation and decreased blood flow to the lungs.
At birth, infants may not show the signs of the cyanosis, but later may develop sudden frightening episodes of bluish skin from crying or feeding (called "Tet spells"). Tetralogy of Fallot occurs in approximately 5 out of 10,000 infants.
Symptoms Return to top
Signs and tests Return to top
A physical examination with a stethoscope almost always reveals a heart murmur.
Tests:
Treatment Return to top
Surgery to repair the defects in the heart is always performed relatively early in life. Sometimes a preliminary surgery to create increased blood flow to the lungs is done before definitive corrective surgery. Corrective surgery widens the narrowed pulmonary valve, and the ventricular septal defect is closed.
Parents of children with tetralogy of Fallot can be assisted in coping with the symptoms of the disease. Some interventions to consider include:
Expectations (prognosis) Return to top
Most cases can be surgically corrected. Prognosis (probable outcome) with surgery is good. Without surgery, death usually occurs around 20 years old.Complications Return to top
Calling your health care provider Return to top
Call your health care provider if new unexplained symptoms develop or if the patient is having an episode of cyanosis (blue skin).Prevention Return to top
There is no known prevention. Update Date: 5/17/2004 Updated by: Elchanan Bruckheimer MBBS, Director of Pediatric Cardiac Catheterization, Schneider Children's Medical Center Israel, Petach Tikva, Israel. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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Page last updated: 28 October 2004 |