Tetralogy of Fallot is a rare condition caused by a combination of four heart defects that are present at birth. Tetralogy of Fallot defects cause oxygen-poor blood to flow out of the heart and into the rest of the body.
Symptoms:
Whole body: Turning Blue —-fainting or inability to physical movements normally due to lack of oxygenated blood.
Heart: murmur or fast heart rate
Also common: baby feeding difficulties, shortness of breath, sudden deep blue discolouration, blue skin from poor circulation, deformity of nails, or failure to thrive
Repair Surgery for Tetralogy of
Fallot involves a type of open-heart surgery called intracardiac repair surgery.
During this procedure, the surgeon places a patch over the ventricular septal defect to close the hole between the ventricles. Surgeon also repairs the narrowed pulmonary valve and widens the pulmonary
arteries to increase blood flow to the lungs. After intracardiac repair, the oxygen level in the blood increases and baby’s symptoms will lessen.
