Tetralogy of Fallot

Most people born with tetralogy of Fallot will need heart surgery during childhood, either to relieve symptoms or to repair the abnormalities associated with this condition, actually a set of defects including a ventricular septal defect, thickened right ventricular wall, an obstruction to blood flow beneath the pulmonary valve, and an aorta that is shifted to the right. However, some individuals reach adulthood without having had surgery. In either case, regular evaluation by a cardiologist experienced in caring for congenital heart disease is needed. A typical evaluation would include a thorough physical exam, electrocardiogram, chest X-ray, echocardiogram and an exercise test. A Holter monitor or event recorder may also be used to check for irregular heart rhythms. More detail can be found in the testing section.

Health Tips from Dr. Healy: Video: What men need to know about their cholesterol Choose another disease or condition... Allergic Rhinitis Allergies, Food Allergy & Asthma Center Alzheimer's Disease Anxiety Aortic Aneurysms Arrhythmia Arthritis, Osteo- (OA) Arthritis, Rheumatoid (RA) Asthma Atopic Dermatitis Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Back Pain Brain Tumor Bones, Joints & Muscles Center Breast Cancer Brain & Behavior Center Brain Tumor Cancer Center    Brain Tumor    Breast Cancer    Cancer Prevention    Clinical Trials    Colorectal Cancer    Endometrial Cancer    Living With and Beyond Cancer    Lung Cancer    Prostate Cancer    Skin Cancer Cardiomyopathy Cataracts Cholesterol Control Clinical Trials Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Colorectal Cancer Congenital Heart Disease Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) Crohn's Disease Depression Diabetes Center Diabetes, Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Digestive Disorders Center Eczema Endometrial Cancer Erectile Dysfunction (ED) Eye & Vision Center Fibromyalgia Food Allergies Gallstone Disease Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) GERD Glaucoma Hay Fever Headache Heart Center Hepatitis A Hepatitis B Hepatitis C High Blood Pressure Hypertension Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) Impotence Insomnia Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Living With and Beyond Cancer Losing Weight Lung Cancer Macular Degeneration Memory Loss Osteoarthritis (OA) Osteoporosis Parkinson's Disease Peptic Ulcer Prediabetes Prostate Cancer Respiratory Disorders Center Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Sexual & Reproductive Health Center Sinusitis Skin Cancer Sleep Apnea Sleep Center Stroke Type 1 Diabetes Type 2 Diabetes Ulcerative Colitis (UC) Weight Control Congenital Heart Defects (American Heart Association): Descriptions of over 10 types of congenital heart defects Congenital Heart Defects (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute): The NHLBI provides succinct information about how the heart works; explains assorted defects; lists symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment Congenital Heart Information Network: C.H.I.N. is an international organization that provides reliable information, support services, and resources to families affected my congenital heart disease Adult Congenital Heart Association: The ACHA is a nonprofit organization that seeks to improve the quality of life and extend the lives of adults with congenital heart defects. Clinical Trials: Congenital Heart Disease: A service of the U.S. National Institutes of Health Email this page Print this section

Two main surgical options for patients with tetralogy of Fallot include:

• Palliation, usually done in early childhood, involves surgically placing a small tube to connect a branch of the aorta to the pulmonary artery. This procedure channels more blood to the lungs to improve blood oxygenation. The Blalock-Taussig procedure is an example of this kind of surgery in which the subclavian artery, a branch of the aorta that normally carries blood to the arms, is surgically connected to the pulmonary artery instead to allow the blood to pick up more oxygen. This operation is usually performed on an infant to postpone corrective surgery until the heart and lungs are more developed.
• Reparative or "corrective" surgery has become a highly effective long-term treatment for tetralogy of Fallot. This surgery redirects the blood flow inside the heart using a variety of measures. The ventricular septal defect is closed, usually with a Dacron patch. The right-sided obstruction to the lungs is relieved by surgically removing the muscle that is obstructing flow. Often the pulmonary artery is enlarged as well. If the pulmonary valve is also thickened or abnormal, it will be repaired or replaced to further relieve the obstruction. People who have undergone reparative operations are still at risk for developing problems as they age and should be evaluated regularly by a specialist in congenital heart disease. Sometimes further surgery is necessary, often to replace the pulmonary valve, which may have been distorted at the time of the first operation.

Medications are commonly prescribed for people with tetralogy of Fallot, for both surgically corrected as well as uncorrected defects. Inotropes, like digitalis or digoxin, may be used to enhance heart function, and antiarrhythmics may be used to control heart rhythms. Read more in the section on medication.