Tetralogy of Fallot / Disease

Diseases & Conditions

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Tetralogy of Fallot

Synonyms of Tetralogy of Fallot

Fallot's Tetralogy
Pulmonic Stenosis-Ventricular Septal Defect

Disorder Subdivisions

General Discussion
Tetralogy of Fallot is the most common form of cyanotic congenital heart disease. Cyanosis is the abnormal bluish discoloration of the skin that occurs because of low levels of circulating oxygen in the blood. Tetralogy of Fallot consists of the combination of four different heart defects: a ventricular septal defect (VSD); obstructed outflow of blood from the right ventricle to the lungs (pulmonary stenosis); a displaced aorta, which causes blood to flow into the aorta from both the right and left ventricles (dextroposition or overriding aorta); and abnormal enlargement of the right ventricle (right ventricular hypertrophy). The severity of the symptoms is related to the degree of blood flow obstruction from the right ventricle.

The normal heart has four chambers. The two upper chambers, known as atria, are separated from each other by a fibrous partition known as the atrial septum. The two lower chambers are known as ventricles and are separated from each other by the ventricular septum. Valves connect the atria (left and right) to their respective ventricles. The valves allow for blood to be pumped through the chambers. Blood travels from the right ventricle through the pulmonary artery to the lungs where it receives oxygen. The blood returns to the heart through pulmonary veins and enters the left ventricle. The left ventricle sends the now oxygen-filled blood into the main artery of the body (aorta). The aorta sends the blood throughout the body.

If infants with tetralogy of Fallot are not treated, the symptoms usually become progressively more severe. Blood flow to the lungs may be further decreased and severe cyanosis may cause life-threatening complications. The exact cause of tetralogy of Fallot is not known.
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Organizations related to Tetralogy of Fallot

Adult Congenital Heart Association
6757 Greene Street
Philadelphia PA 19119
Phone #: 215-849-1260
800 #: --
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://www.achaheart.org/
American Heart Association
National Center
Dallas TX 75231-4596
Phone #: 214-373-6300
800 #: 800-242-8721
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://www.americanheart.org
Congenital Heart Anomalies, Support, Education, & Resources
2112 North Wilkins Road
Swanton OH 43558
Phone #: 419-825-5575
800 #: --
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://www.csun.edu/~hcmth011/chaser/chaser-news.html
Congenital Heart Information Network
1561 Clark Dr
Yardley PA 19067
Phone #: 215-493-3068
800 #: --
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://www.tchin.org
Kids With Heart National Association for Children's Heart Disorders, Inc.
1578 Careful Dr
Green Bay WI 54304-2941
Phone #: 920-498-0058
800 #: 800-538-5390
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://www.kidswithheart.org
Little Hearts, Inc.
P.O. Box 171
Cromwell CT 06416
Phone #: 860-635-0006
800 #: 866-435-4673
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://www.littlehearts.org
MUMS (Mothers United for Moral Support, Inc) National Parent-to-Parent Network
150 Custer Court
Green Bay WI 54301-1243
Phone #: 920-336-5333
800 #: 877-336-5333
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://www.netnet.net/mums/
Madisons Foundation
PO Box 241956
Los Angeles CA 90024
Phone #: 310-264-0826
800 #: N/A
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: http://www.madisonsfoundation.org
NIH/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Information Center
P.O. Box 30105
Bethesda MD 20824-0105
Phone #: 301-592-8573
800 #: --
e-mail: [email protected]
Home page: N/A

For a Complete Report

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ? (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html