Is Tetralogy of Fallot serious?

Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
Updated on September 06, 2024
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Tetralogy of Fallot is the most common cyanotic congenital heart disease in children, accounting for about 10% of congenital heart diseases. It is a complex type of congenital heart condition, consisting of four defects: a ventricular septal defect, right ventricular outflow tract obstruction, overriding aorta, and right ventricular hypertrophy. Due to these four malformations, children will experience cyanosis, poor exercise tolerance, and may quickly become fussy or emotionally disturbed with physical activity. This can lead to noticeable worsening of dyspnea and cyanosis. They may also exhibit a preference for squatting, as squatting can decrease the return blood volume to the heart, increase systemic vascular resistance, and temporarily relieve hypoxic symptoms. Other symptoms include clubbing, paroxysmal hypoxia attacks which are more common in infants. These attacks can be triggered by crying, emotional excitement, anemia, infections, etc., and suddenly manifest as paroxysmal breathing difficulties. In severe cases, there can be fainting, convulsions, and even death. Therefore, these clinical manifestations are very serious, making this disease a significantly dangerous condition.

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Written by Hu Qi Feng
Pediatrics
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Tetralogy of Fallot syncope causes

The causes of syncope in Tetralogy of Fallot generally involve episodic hypoxia attacks, which are more common in infants. Triggers include breastfeeding, crying, emotional excitement, anemia, and infections. The symptoms manifest as episodic breathing difficulties, and severe cases can suddenly lead to syncope with convulsions or even death. The underlying reason is the narrowing of the pulmonary artery infundibulum accompanied by muscular spasms, causing obstruction of the pulmonary artery and intensifying cerebral hypoxia. Older children may complain of headaches and dizziness.

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Written by Hu Qi Feng
Pediatrics
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Emergency treatment for cyanosis in Tetralogy of Fallot

During hypoxic attacks of Tetralogy of Fallot, for mild cases, adopting the knee-chest position can provide relief. Severe cases should immediately receive oxygen and be given relevant medication treatment. Normally, attention should be paid to removing factors that cause hypoxic attacks, such as anemia and infections, and keep the child as calm as possible. For cases where hypoxia cannot be effectively controlled through the above measures, emergency surgical repair should be considered.

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Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
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Tetralogy of Fallot shadow on the radiograph

Tetralogy of Fallot is the most common cyanotic heart disease in children over the age of one, accounting for about 10 percent of all congenital heart diseases. Tetralogy of Fallot includes four anatomical abnormalities: a ventricular septal defect, right ventricular outflow tract obstruction, an overriding aorta, and right ventricular hypertrophy. In patients diagnosed through X-ray, the heart size is often within normal limits, typically appearing boot-shaped, with markedly reduced pulmonary vascular markings. The aortic arch may be located on the right side, and the ascending aorta is usually dilated. Patients with rich collateral circulation display prominent pulmonary markings.

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Written by Tong Peng
Pediatrics
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Does Tetralogy of Fallot easily lead to heart failure?

Tetralogy of Fallot often leads to symptoms of heart failure because it is a severe congenital disease. Affected children tend to present with cyanosis of the lips, impaired growth and development, and a simple echocardiography can reveal specific indicators such as aorta overriding, pulmonary stenosis, right ventricular hypertrophy, and ventricular septal defect. These children have limited lung and heart function, making them prone to increased cardiac load and symptoms of heart failure following infections or physical activity. Therefore, early surgical treatment is necessary for these children to prevent recurrent infectious diseases and heart failure, which can affect their normal growth and development. Additionally, it is crucial to enhance nutrition and exercise in their daily lives to boost their immune system. For Tetralogy of Fallot, early detection and treatment are essential.

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Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
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The main cause of hypoxic attacks in Tetralogy of Fallot

Tetralogy of Fallot is a complex congenital heart disease, characterized by ventricular septal defect, right ventricular outflow tract obstruction, aorta overriding, and right ventricular hypertrophy. When the obstruction of the right ventricular outflow tract is severe, pulmonary artery blood flow significantly decreases. A large amount of unoxygenated venous blood passes through the ventricular septal defect causing a right-to-left shunt, which clinically manifests as severe cyanosis and increased red blood cells, and different degrees of hypoxia in the systemic circulation. Factors that can induce hypoxic episodes in these infants include feeding, crying, emotional agitation, anemia, infection, etc. These can suddenly lead to fainting, convulsions, or even death. The main reason is generally due to a sudden muscle spasm at the narrow pulmonary artery infundibulum on top of pre-existing stenosis, causing temporary pulmonary artery obstruction and exacerbating cerebral hypoxia, thus leading to severe hypoxic attacks.