Fallots Tetralogy

Question 1

What anatomical structures are affected?

Answer 1

Ventricular septum
Pulmonary valve
Aorta
Right ventricle

Question 2

How are the 4 structures affected?

Answer 2

1) ventricular septal defects - hole in the heart
2) pulmonary stenosis - narrowing if the pulmonary valve
3) overriding aorta - position covers both the right and the left ventricle
4) right ventricular hypertrophy

Question 3

How do the structural abnormalities affect the heart?

Answer 3

Low oxygenation f the blood because of ventral septal defects

Right to left shunting

Question 4

What prior events cause fallots tetralogy

Answer 4

Maybe she’s born with it

Question 5

Symptoms?

Answer 5

Cyanosis caused by low blood oxygenation.

Difficult to feed

Can’t gain weight.

Retarded growth/physical development.

Dyspnoea when exercising

Question 6

Clinical signs?

Answer 6

Heart murmur - can be really loud or really quiet

Clubbing

Polycythemia

Tet spells - incr in cyanosis followed by syncope. Can cause brain hypoxia + death.

Question 7

Test results?

Answer 7

Echocardiogram shows abnormalities in structure. Also shows right to left shunt.

Couer-en-sabot (boot like) appearance of the heart visible during chest x ray

Question 8

How to treat?

Answer 8

Oxygen helps to treat Tet spells as it allows more blood flow to lungs.

Surgery to create an anastomoses between subclavian artery and pulmonary artery - once blood flow to lungs.

Curative heart surgery relieves right ventricular outflow - allows you to repair VSD.