Is Tetralogy of Fallot hereditary?

Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
Updated on September 13, 2024
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Tetralogy of Fallot is a common cyanotic congenital heart disease in children, accounting for about ten percent of congenital heart diseases. It primarily consists of four abnormalities: ventricular septal defect, right ventricular outflow tract obstruction, overriding aorta, and left ventricular hypertrophy. Congenital heart disease is not a hereditary disease; it is not controlled by genes, mainly due to abnormal development of the heart and blood vessels during fetal development, leading to cardiovascular malformations. Thus, this disease is not hereditary.

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Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
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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 Hu Qi Feng
Pediatrics
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Can Tetralogy of Fallot be cured?

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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What position should be adopted when Tetralogy of Fallot is hypoxic?

Treatment of hypoxic episodes in Tetralogy of Fallot: For mild cases, assuming the knee-chest position can alleviate symptoms. Severe cases require immediate oxygen administration and relevant drug therapy. Routinely, it is important to actively eliminate factors that trigger hypoxic episodes, such as anemia and infections, and maintain the child's tranquility. If the above treatments do not effectively control the episodes, emergency surgical intervention for repair or definitive treatment should be considered.

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Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
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Can Tetralogy of Fallot be cured?

Tetralogy of Fallot is a type of congenital heart disease linked to family genetics and is considered quite severe among congenital heart conditions. Generally, within a few months after birth, children will exhibit cyanosis of the skin. It is crucial to perform surgery on the child promptly in such cases. Currently, the level of pediatric cardiothoracic surgery in our country has developed very rapidly. For typical cases of Tetralogy of Fallot, surgical treatment can be curative. Moreover, there are no specific requirements regarding weight and age for children undergoing heart surgery nowadays. Therefore, once Tetralogy of Fallot is diagnosed in young children, it is best to perform surgery as soon as possible. These children can then grow up, develop normally, and attend school like their peers.

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Written by Chen Guang Yin
Cardiology
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Can someone with Tetralogy of Fallot have a second child?

Tetralogy of Fallot is a congenital cardiac defect that has not been found to have a definite genetic relationship, meaning no chromosomal abnormalities have been discovered. However, congenital heart disease does tend to occur within families to a certain extent, indicating some level of familial predisposition. The primary cause, however, is believed to be related to viral infections during the first three months of pregnancy or the use of certain medications. Therefore, we believe that parents of a child with Tetralogy of Fallot can consider having a second child.