Tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) is a serious heart defect at birth defined by four key structural problems in the heart. These problems allow oxygen-poor blood to directly escape from the heart out into the body so organs and tissues are not receiving all the oxygen in which they would otherwise acquire. Due to medical advancements, early corrective heart surgery is capable of repairing these problems in such a way as to significantly improve blood flow as well as oxygen delivery. Life with ToF nonetheless requires continued care as well as periodic visits with a specialist in medicine in an attempt to ensure heart health throughout a lifetime.
If you seek specialized treatment for children suffering from Tetralogy of Fallot or any other congenital heart disease, then the best children's hospital in Greater Noida consists of qualified paediatric cardiologists and state-of-the-art operating theaters. This guarantees complete treatment for your child which is customized as per their specific requirement.
What causes Tetralogy of Fallot? What are signs and symptoms for which patients and their parents ought to watch for? How does it impact daily life once treated with surgery? Here in this blog posting, we shall discuss in detail causes, frequently observed signs and symptoms, modes of treatment, and what lifelong care is for patients living with TOF.
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What is the Tetralogy of Fallot?
Tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) is a condition in which a baby's heart contains four abnormalities at birth. These issues make it difficult for your baby's heart to deliver adequate oxygen to their entire body. This matters because your body requires oxygen to function.
With each heartbeat, your blood travels a predetermined path through your heart. Because of structural problems in a ToF heart, some non-oxygenated blood may flow to your baby's body. Medications and procedures can provide your child with relief during infancy.
Babies have the following four issues with tetralogy of Fallot:
Ventricular septal defects (VSD): A hole in the wall between your lower heart chambers allows blood without oxygen to combine with oxygenated blood.
Pulmonary artery stenosis: A narrow pulmonary valve and main pulmonary artery prevent adequate blood flow to your lungs with each heartbeat.
Overriding the aorta: A VSD has caused your aorta and valve to be above and open to both ventricles. This allows blood that lacks oxygen to flow out of your body rather than into your pulmonary artery and lungs to receive oxygen.
Ventricular hypertrophy: Your right ventricle's muscle wall is too thick because it is working harder than necessary to compensate for the heart's other abnormalities.
Rarely, some people do not receive treatment in childhood and may develop problems in adulthood.
Symptoms Causes
How do doctors diagnose this condition?
Tetralogy of Fallot can be diagnosed during pregnancy or after your baby's birth. They usually discover ToF in the first few weeks or months of life. If the initial ultrasound appears suspicious, your healthcare provider may perform a foetal echocardiogram during prenatal testing to examine the structure of the foetal heart.
Tests Used to Diagnose ToF After Birth
During a physical examination, a healthcare professional will listen to your child's heart. If they have ToF, their provider will most likely notice a heart murmur.
A provider may use the following tests to diagnose tetralogy of Fallot:
Pulse Oximetry
Chest X-ray or cardiac CT (computerised tomography)
Electrocardiograms (EKG)
Cardiac catheterisation
Diagnoses and Tests
How is Tetralogy of Fallot diagnosed?
Tetralogy of Fallot can be diagnosed during pregnancy or after your baby's birth. They usually discover it within the first few weeks or months of life.
Tests before birth
During prenatal tests, your healthcare provider may notice something in an ultrasound image that appears to be tetralogy of Fallot. From 18 to 22 weeks into your pregnancy, your provider will be able to use a foetal echocardiogram or ultrasound image of the fetus's heart to determine whether the heart structure is normal.
Infantile tests
If your baby has tetralogy of Fallot, your provider will most likely detect a heart murmur when listening to their heart. They can easily check your newborn baby's oxygen level using pulse oximetry. If it indicates a low oxygen level, your provider can perform an echocardiogram. These tests cause no pain and do not penetrate your baby's skin.
Pulse oximetry: Before you take your baby home, your provider will attach sensors to your newborn's feet or hands to determine how much oxygen is in their blood.
Echocardiogram: This uses sound waves to show your baby's heart structure and how well it functions.
A chest X-ray or CT scan: This may reveal a heart with the abnormal shape of a boot.
Tests for children or adults
To diagnose tetralogy of Fallot in a child or adult, a provider may employ the methods listed above, as well as an electrocardiogram (EKG) and cardiac catheterisation.
Management Treatment
How is the ToF treated?
Tetralogy of Fallot treatment consists of taking medications to alleviate symptoms and having surgery to correct the problem. As a first step in tetralogy of Fallot treatment, your child's doctor may prescribe beta-blockers (to improve blood flow) and additional oxygen. Three to six months after birth, your baby can have surgery to restore proper blood flow through their heart.
Tetralogy of Fallot repair
Repair options vary according to your child's condition. If your baby is too small or weak for a full repair, their provider can perform a simpler procedure until they can complete the full ToF repair. These techniques can alleviate symptoms for many years, even into adulthood, until a provider can perform a more extensive repair procedure.
The tetralogy of Fallot repair procedures include:
Complete the repair: A surgeon can increase the size of the pulmonary valve and the path to the pulmonary artery. They can also patch the hole between the two ventricles.
BTT shunt procedure: Your doctor may insert a shunt or tube between your child's subclavian and pulmonary arteries to help blood flow to the lungs.
Catheter procedure: A provider can insert a stent to improve blood flow out of the right ventricle. They can also place a stent in the patent ductus arteriosus to prevent it from closing.
Surgery for Adults
Sometimes a person reaches adulthood without having undergone any surgical repair. This is not common. Specialists recommend that they undergo a complete surgical repair to avoid future complications or death.
To complete the repair, a surgeon specialising in adult congenital heart disease closes the ventricular septal defect with a patch. They open the passageway from the right ventricle and repair or replace the pulmonary valve. They enlarge the pulmonary arteries that supply both lungs. Sometimes a tube is placed between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery to improve blood flow.
Many adults who have their ToF heart defect repaired do not require further surgery. However, they should continue to see an adult TOF specialist doctor Greater Noida for regular monitoring.
Prognosis
What should I expect if I have this condition?
Surgery for tetralogy of Fallot restores the normal blood flow pathway. However, you or your child may still face other issues, such as:
Heart infection risk: You are more likely to develop a heart infection (endocarditis) if you have poor dental hygiene. Antibiotics can help prevent infections during dental appointments.
Slow development: Babies with tetralogy of Fallot may have a slower development and growth rate. They may require physical, speech, or occupational therapy to help them.
Pregnancy risks: Your doctor may need to check your heart before you become pregnant, and there is an increased risk of miscarriage.
Medication restrictions: With your heart condition, you may be able to use only certain medications and birth control as an adult.
When should I see my healthcare provider?
If your baby is experiencing a severe tet spell, take them to the nearest emergency room. If you have passed out, are dizzy, are short of breath, or are experiencing chest pain, you should also go to the emergency room.
Adults who had initial surgery for ToF as children should have a complete cardiac evaluation every year or two. You may require a variety of tests to assess cardiac function, such as:
The Holter monitor
Electrocardiograms (EKG)
Exercise Stress Test
Echocardiogram
Heart MRI
In addition, your provider will need to monitor the size and function of your right heart.
Following tetralogy of Fallot repair, your child will require regular visits to a child heart specialist in Greater Noida (paediatric cardiologist). Regular care will continue throughout adulthood.
Ask your provider if your child will need to limit their sports activities following surgery.
Will my child require additional surgeries?
What, if any, medications will my child need to take?
Conclusion
Tetralogy of Fallot is a treatable but severe congenital heart disease which requires specialized care, early diagnosis, and lifelong monitoring. Improvements in pediatric cardiac surgery allow children with ToF to live full and active lives. Whether your child is a recent diagnosis or living with lifelong follow-up, it is essential for you to find a specialist medical team.
Families seeking specialized care are often looking at quality as much as affordability; if you are doing research, it is a worthwhile consideration for you to research child heart surgery costs in Noida so you are in a position to make informed treatment choices. With proper support, early interventions, and a qualified TOF specialist doctor, children with ToF can flourish and reach their full potential.
