Symptoms of Tetralogy of Fallot

I'm sure everyone is not very familiar with this Tetralogy of Fallot, so let me give you a brief explanation below. The most common type of cyanotic congenital heart disease (accounting for 70-75%) is a complex congenital malformation, including pulmonary artery stenosis, ventricular septal defect, aorta riding on the defective ventricular septum or right position and right ventricular hypertrophy. This is a congenital disease. Let’s take a look at the symptoms of Tetralogy of Fallot.

Symptoms

Most cases develop cyanosis within 6 months after birth, and in severe cases it occurs soon after birth. In mild cases, cyanosis gradually appears at around 1 year old due to worsening pulmonary valve stenosis and closure of the ductus arteriosus. The child may become breathless and weak after activity and prefer a squatting position. The latter can increase systemic circulatory resistance, while reducing right-to-left shunt and the amount of blood returning to the heart, slightly alleviating the symptoms. In severe cases of cyanosis, severe hypoxia may cause paroxysmal syncope, epileptic convulsions, impaired consciousness, and even death.

Two treatment methods

1 Medical treatment: Timely control of respiratory tract infection to prevent and treat infective endocarditis. In severe cases, use beta-blockers to relieve right ventricular outflow tract obstruction and prevent hypoxia attacks.

2Surgical treatment: Direct vision radical surgery, including removal of the hypertrophic muscle bundles of the right ventricular outflow tract, separation of the stenotic valve, and repair of the ventricular septal defect. This operation is more thorough. The appropriate age for surgery is 5-8 years old. If the symptoms are severe, shunt surgery can be performed within 3 years of age to anastomose the subclavian artery, aorta or superior vena cava to the pulmonary artery to establish systemic-pulmonary circulation to improve hypoxia and prepare for radical surgery in the future. In some cases where radical surgery is not possible, pulmonary valve stenosis or infundibulotomy may be considered to alleviate right ventricular obstruction, increase pulmonary blood flow, and reduce right-to-left shunt.

Three causes

Pulmonary artery stenosis is most common in the infundibulum, which is caused by the hypoplasia of the right ventricular outflow tract, endocardial thickening, and diffuse or localized thickening of the infundibulum tissue, forming a third ventricle. Ventricular septal defect is mostly located below the origin of the ascending aorta, similar in size to the aortic valve orifice, and is of the sub-supravinal type. Aortic co-saddle is a relative deformity that may gradually worsen as the aorta develops. Right ventricular hypertrophy is a compensatory result of pulmonary artery stenosis, with the ventricular wall thickening and approaching and exceeding the left ventricle. About 20-25% of patients with this disease have a right aortic arch, and about 15% have a patent foramen ovale or atrial septal defect, which is called pentalogy of Fallot. Its clinical manifestations are similar to those of tetralogy of Fallot. The disease may also coexist with other malformations such as patent ductus arteriosus, bilateral superior vena cava, anomalous pulmonary venous drainage, and dextrocardia.

After reading the above Tetralogy of Fallot, there is a detailed introduction to its causes, symptoms, and treatments. Although this disease is congenital, once it becomes serious it can directly lead to death, so newborns must undergo health checks to detect congenital diseases early and receive treatment as soon as possible. Take preventive measures in your life.