Can Tetralogy of Fallot be cured?

Written by Hu Qi Feng
Pediatrics
Updated on September 30, 2024
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With the continuous improvement of surgical techniques, the cure rate for total corrective surgery for Tetralogy of Fallot is increasing, and the mortality rate is continuously decreasing. Mild cases may have the opportunity to undergo a one-stage corrective surgery between the ages of five and nine. However, for patients with significant clinical symptoms, palliative surgery should be performed within six months after birth. Once the general condition improves and pulmonary vasculature develops, they can proceed with the corrective surgery. Overall, the cure rate for Tetralogy of Fallot is continuously improving.

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Written by Hu Qi Feng
Pediatrics
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Tetralogy of Fallot Clinical Symptoms

The clinical manifestations of Tetralogy of Fallot include cyanosis, with cyanosis being the primary symptom. The severity of cyanosis is related to the extent of pulmonary stenosis and is commonly seen in areas rich in capillaries, such as the lips, fingertips, nail beds, and conjunctiva, where it appears more pronounced during physical activity or crying. Secondly, the squatting symptom is observed; children may show squatting behavior during walking or playing, often squatting down voluntarily for a moment. During squatting, the flexion of the lower limbs reduces the venous return to the heart, lightening the cardiac load and decreasing the right-to-left shunting, thereby alleviating hypoxia. Thirdly, clubbing of the fingers occurs due to long-term hypoxia, leading to hypertrophic growth at the fingertip and toe ends. Fourthly, paroxysmal hypoxic attacks occur.

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Written by Hu Qi Feng
Pediatrics
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Tetralogy of Fallot cyanosis cause

Tetralogy of Fallot, due to a ventricular septal defect combined with right ventricular outflow tract narrowing, can display left-to-right, bidirectional, or even right-to-left shunting at the ventricular level. Patients with mild pulmonary stenosis can have left-to-right shunting and usually do not exhibit cyanosis. However, when the pulmonary stenosis is severe, significant right-to-left shunting occurs, and clinically apparent cyanosis becomes evident. Cyanosis is commonly observed in areas rich in capillaries and superficial tissues, such as the lips, fingertips, nail beds, and bulbar conjunctiva.

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Written by Yan Xin Liang
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Can Tetralogy of Fallot be cured?

Tetralogy of Fallot consists of four types of cardiac malformations: first, a ventricular septal defect; second, right ventricular outflow tract obstruction; third, an overriding aorta; and fourth, right ventricular hypertrophy. The main treatment for this condition is surgical repair. In recent years, there have been continual advancements in surgical procedures. Many children undergo a definitive one-stage surgery in early childhood, which can completely cure the condition. Thus, if the symptoms are mild, a definitive surgery can be performed in one stage. If the symptoms are more severe, a palliative shunt surgery may be performed first, followed by the definitive surgery when the general condition improves, and it can still be cured.

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Written by Yan Xin Liang
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Tetralogy of Fallot is caused by what?

Tetralogy of Fallot is the most common cyanotic congenital heart disease in childhood, consisting of four abnormalities: ventricular septal defect, obstruction of the right ventricular outflow tract, overriding aorta, and hypertrophy of the right ventricle. Congenital heart disease generally stems from abnormal cardiovascular development during the fetal period, resulting in a complex vascular malformation. The occurrence of cardiovascular malformations is mainly due to the interaction of genetic and environmental factors. The causes of congenital heart disease have not been fully clarified yet, but it is important to reinforce prenatal care, especially by actively preventing viral infections early in pregnancy and avoiding certain high-risk factors related to the disease to prevent congenital heart disease in children.

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Written by Hu Qi Feng
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Tetralogy of Fallot Clinical Characteristics

Tetralogy of Fallot is the most common cyanotic congenital heart disease in infancy, accounting for about 12% of all congenital heart diseases. It is caused by malformations of four heart structures: 1. right ventricular outflow tract obstruction; 2. ventricular septal defect; 3. overriding aorta; 4. right ventricular hypertrophy. Its clinical manifestations may include cyanosis, squatting symptoms, clubbed fingers, and paroxysmal hypoxia attacks. Physical examinations generally show delayed development, a prominent precordial area, and at the second to fourth rib interspace along the left sternal margin, a grade 2 to 3 rough systolic murmur can be heard.