Tetralogy of Fallot electrocardiogram manifestations

Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
Updated on October 27, 2024
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Tetralogy of Fallot is a common type of cyanotic congenital heart disease, primarily composed of four structural components: first, a ventricular septal defect; second, an overriding aorta; third, hypertrophy of the right ventricle; and fourth, obstruction of the right ventricular outflow tract. When performing an electrocardiogram (ECG) on Tetralogy of Fallot, it often shows right ventricular hypertrophy, and can also display right atrial hypertrophy. Initially, there may be hypertrophy of both the left and right ventricles. As the child develops cyanosis, it progressively evolves into hypertrophy of the right ventricle. These are the typical ECG findings in Tetralogy of Fallot.

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Written by Tong Peng
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Can children with Tetralogy of Fallot heal on their own?

Children with Tetralogy of Fallot cannot be cured, as this condition is a congenital disease, primarily involving vascular malformations, characterized by ventricular septal defects, overriding aorta, pulmonary hypertension, and right ventricular hypertrophy. Due to pulmonary atresia or near-atresia, leading to numerous collateral vessels, it might only present with a ventricular septal defect with shunting or mild pulmonary valve stenosis. The effectiveness of surgery for this type of Tetralogy of Fallot may not be particularly good, and the chances of a cure are very low. Therefore, for this category, early detection and surgical treatment are crucial, and it is important to enhance dietary nutrition and care in daily life, as it is prone to pulmonary infections, which can lead to serious conditions such as respiratory failure and heart failure.

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Why does Tetralogy of Fallot squat?

The primary deformity in Tetralogy of Fallot is the obstruction of the right ventricular outflow, which leads to increased right ventricular pressure and a right-to-left shunt causing cyanosis. When the child squats, the flexion of the lower limbs can reduce the return of blood to the heart, alleviating the burden on the right ventricle. At the same time, it can increase systemic circulation resistance, reducing the right-to-left shunt in the heart, thereby alleviating the child's symptoms of hypoxia.

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Written by Hu Qi Feng
Pediatrics
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Tetralogy of Fallot Common Symptoms

The clinical manifestations of Tetralogy of Fallot include, firstly, cyanosis as the primary clinical symptom. The degree and onset of cyanosis are related to the severity of pulmonary stenosis, and it often appears in areas with abundant capillaries such as lips, fingers, toes, nail beds, and bulbar conjunctiva. Secondly, squatting symptoms are common among children; they often spontaneously squat for a while during walking or playing. Squatting, with the legs bent, reduces the venous return and thus decreases the load on the heart, temporarily relieving symptoms of hypoxia by reducing the right-to-left shunt. Thirdly, clubbing occurs due to long-term hypoxic conditions, which can cause capillary dilation and proliferation in the fingers and toes, and the local soft tissues and bones also grow and enlarge; fourthly, paroxysmal hypoxic attacks, which are most common in infants, can be triggered by breastfeeding, crying, emotional excitement, or anemia. These attacks suddenly occur and can lead to severe symptoms including difficulty breathing, fainting, convulsions, and even death.

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Tetralogy of Fallot Emergency Measures

Generally, one should often drink water to prevent infection, prevent dehydration and complications. Infants and young children should be especially careful in their care, to avoid episodes of paroxysmal hypoxia. In mild cases of hypoxic episodes, placing them in a knee-chest position can alleviate the symptoms. In severe cases, oxygen should be administered immediately, along with the appropriate drug treatment. If the episodes cannot be effectively controlled with medication, emergency surgical intervention may be necessary. With the continuous improvement in surgical techniques this year, the mortality rate for curative surgeries has been decreasing.

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The reason for squatting in Tetralogy of Fallot

The reason for squatting is that when squatting, the lower limbs are bent, which reduces the amount of blood returning to the heart through the veins, thereby reducing the load on the heart. At the same time, the arteries in the lower limbs are compressed, which increases the resistance in the systemic circulation and reduces the right-to-left shunt volume, allowing temporary relief from hypoxia symptoms. Babies who cannot walk often like to be held by adults in a position that bends the lower limbs to reduce the amount of blood returning to the heart. This frequently occurs during walking and playing, often characterized by brief periods of squatting.