Symptoms Of Tetralogy Of Fallot

Tetralogy of Fallot is a fairly uncommon heart problem. Babies are born with the condition, and it's most often seen in children with Down or DiGeorge syndrome. It is the name for a combination of four anomalies in the heart. One of these is a ventricular septal defect, which is basically a hole in the heart. Another defect in this condition is an enlarged aorta that seems to rise from both of the ventricles of the heart. Normal aortas only rise from the left ventricle. The other characteristics are a too narrow pulmonary valve or a place beneath the valve that blocks blood flow, and a thickening of the right ventricle walls. This thickening happens because the right ventricle must work hard to pump blood. Tetralogy of Fallot can be either partially or completely repaired. Learn about the symptoms of tetralogy of Fallot now.

Cyanosis

Cyanosis is a blue tinge to the skin best seen in the patient’s fingers, toes and lips. This happens because the blood flow to the lungs is decreased, and the oxygen-starved blood, which has a bluish color, is shunted from the right ventricle to the rest of the body. The extent of the tetralogy of Fallot and cyanosis as a symptom depends on how narrow the pulmonary valve is. It can be treated with a shunt procedure that lets more blood and oxygen flow to the lungs. However, the procedure is temporary, and the patient will need to have the other defects in the heart corrected eventually.

Continue reading to reveal more symptoms of tetralogy of Fallot now.