Tetralogy of Fallot

Fallot tetralogy is a complex heart defect characterised by cyanosis, meaning that patients have a bluish complexion due to inadequate oxygenation of the blood.

In Fallot tetralogy, the heart is “not fully formed”. The pulmonary artery is underdeveloped and stenosed, and the ventricular septum is incomplete and absent beneath the roots of the aorta and pulmonary artery.

In practice, blood enters the right ventricle. As it contracts, the right ventricle sends venous blood both into the pulmonary artery (but only in a small amount, given the resistance caused by the stenosis) and into the aorta. Arterial blood is therefore a mixture of non-oxygenated venous blood and red arterial blood, which accounts for the patient’s “bluish” appearance.

It is surgical. Completely reparative surgery is performed as early as possible. This surgery consists of closing the ventricular septal defect and enlarging the pulmonary infundibulum and pulmonary arteries.