Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsEffects on the Body4 AbnormalitiesCausesSymptomsWhen to Seek Medical CareDiagnosisTreatmentOutlook
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Effects on the Body
4 Abnormalities
Causes
Symptoms
When to Seek Medical Care
Diagnosis
Treatment
Outlook
Tetralogy of Fallot, or TOF, is a criticalcongenital (present at birth) heart defectthat impacts the flow of blood through the heart. People with Tetralogy of Fallot have four specific defects, including a boot-shaped heart and an overriding aorta.The condition is usually diagnosed soon after birth. Babies may have tet spells, also known as tetralogy spells, which are episodes of bluish skin. Most babies with tetralogy of Fallot need tetralogy of Fallot surgery to repair the heart before they’re about six months old.With surgery, 90% of people with TOF survive to adulthood and lead healthy lives.
Continue reading to learn more about TOF, including how tetralogy of Fallot impacts the body, what to expect from surgery and the prognosis for your child.
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How Tetralogy of Fallot Affects the Body
Theheartis responsible for bumping oxygen-rich blood throughout the body. However, tetralogy of Fallot causes blood flow to be reduced. Because of that, oxygen doesn’t reach the body as well as it does in healthy individuals. This is why babies with TOF are often blue, or experience a tet spell (periods of turning blue) when crying or eating.
What Are the 4 Abnormalities of the Heart in Tetralogy of Fallot?
Four characteristic defects are present in the heart when a person has tetralogy of Fallot. They are:
Tetralogy of Fallot Causes
Researchers don’t know what causes tetralogy of Fallot.However, they have identified risk factors for the condition, including having otherchromosomal disorders, includingDown syndrome,Alagille syndrome, andDiGeorge syndrome.
In addition, these conditions during pregnancy can increase the risk of a fetus that has tetralogy of Fallot:
Tetralogy of Fallot Symptoms
The most common symptom of tetralogy of Fallot is a blue tinge on the skin, lips and nails.This is a condition known ascyanosis, which happens when there is not enough oxygen in the blood. Inpeople with darker skin, cyanosis can cause the skin to look gray or white.
Babies with tetralogy of Fallot can experience tet spells, or tetralogy spells, which happen when their oxygen levels drop rapidly, causing cyanosis. This happens most often when an infant is crying or feeding.During these spells, babies may:
Other symptoms of tetralogy of Fallot include:
Treating Tet Spells
How Is Tetralogy of Fallot Diagnosed?
Sometimes, tetralogy of Fallot is detected before a fetus is born using anultrasound. However, the condition is more commonly diagnosed after birth.
After a symptom is noticed, healthcare providers will order anechocardiogram, or ultrasound of the heart. This test can confirm the presence of the four abnormalities of tetralogy of Fallot, allowing your healthcare provider to diagnose.
How Is Tetralogy of Fallot Treated?
Babies with tetralogy of Fallot need corrective surgery. Without surgery, most people with the condition die before they are 20. But with surgery, about 90% of people with the condition live into adulthood and have full, healthy lives.
Temporary operation
Sometimes, doctors use a temporary operation to help relieve symptoms of tetralogy of Fallot. This surgery is not open-heart surgery, so it’s used for very young or fragile infants. A shunt, or hollow tube, is placed in the heart to help normalize blood flow until a corrective surgery is done.
Complete repair
What’s the Outlook for Someone With Tetralogy of Fallot?
With treatment, the outlook for infants with tetralogy of Fallot is good. Children who have TOF will need to continue to see a cardiologist, even after the condition is repaired. Some children will need to limit activities like contact sports, while others will be able to do most activities.
Children can experience some complications, includingarrhythmias, or irregular heartbeats. In severe cases, these can cause dizziness or fainting. Your child should continue to see a cardiologist throughout their life if they were born with tetralogy of Fallot.
Summary
Tetralogy of Fallot is a congenital heart condition that some people are born with. The condition includes four distinct defects in the heart, which impact the organ’s ability to pump oxygen throughout the body. Tetralogy of Fallot is serious and requires open-heart surgery to correct. However, with proper treatment and follow up, 90% of people with the condition will live into adulthood.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Heart Association.Tetralogy of Fallot.Vithana R E.Tetralogy of fallot (TOF). Johns Hopkins Medicine.MedlinePlus.Tetralogy of Fallot. National Library of Medicine.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Facts about tetralogy of Fallot.Seattle Children’s.Tetralogy of Fallot.
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Heart Association.Tetralogy of Fallot.Vithana R E.Tetralogy of fallot (TOF). Johns Hopkins Medicine.MedlinePlus.Tetralogy of Fallot. National Library of Medicine.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Facts about tetralogy of Fallot.Seattle Children’s.Tetralogy of Fallot.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Heart Association.Tetralogy of Fallot.Vithana R E.Tetralogy of fallot (TOF). Johns Hopkins Medicine.MedlinePlus.Tetralogy of Fallot. National Library of Medicine.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Facts about tetralogy of Fallot.Seattle Children’s.Tetralogy of Fallot.
American Heart Association.Tetralogy of Fallot.
Vithana R E.Tetralogy of fallot (TOF). Johns Hopkins Medicine.
MedlinePlus.Tetralogy of Fallot. National Library of Medicine.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Facts about tetralogy of Fallot.
Seattle Children’s.Tetralogy of Fallot.
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