Symptoms Of Tetralogy Of Fallot

Tetralogy of Fallot is a fairly uncommon heart problem. Babies are born with the condition, and it's most often seen in children with Down or DiGeorge syndrome. It is the name for a combination of four anomalies in the heart. One of these is a ventricular septal defect, which is basically a hole in the heart. Another defect in this condition is an enlarged aorta that seems to rise from both of the ventricles of the heart. Normal aortas only rise from the left ventricle. The other characteristics are a too narrow pulmonary valve or a place beneath the valve that blocks blood flow, and a thickening of the right ventricle walls. This thickening happens because the right ventricle must work hard to pump blood. Tetralogy of Fallot can be either partially or completely repaired. Learn about the symptoms of tetralogy of Fallot now.

Cyanosis

Cyanosis is a blue tinge to the skin best seen in the patient’s fingers, toes and lips. This happens because the blood flow to the lungs is decreased, and the oxygen-starved blood, which has a bluish color, is shunted from the right ventricle to the rest of the body. The extent of the tetralogy of Fallot and cyanosis as a symptom depends on how narrow the pulmonary valve is. It can be treated with a shunt procedure that lets more blood and oxygen flow to the lungs. However, the procedure is temporary, and the patient will need to have the other defects in the heart corrected eventually.

Loss Of Consciousness

Loss of consciousness as a symptom of tetralogy of Fallot is a result of a lack of oxygen to the brain. Though fainting happens quickly, there are signs it is about to occur. The child in question may be pale, sweating, and generally weak. They may also feel nauseated or have blurred vision and a rapid heartbeat and breathing before they faint. Loss of consciousness is one aspect of what’s called a 'Tet spell,' which occur because of a severe drop in oxygen levels. Besides their loss of breath, the child can also be irritable and cyanotic.

Clubbed Fingers And Toes

The fingers and toes of a patient with tetralogy of Fallot may not only be blue but clubbed as well. Clubbed fingers and toes are a sign there is something wrong with the person’s heart or lungs. No one knows why the fingers and toes of individuals with heart and lung problems get a clubbed look. Some claim it’s the result of blood vessels becoming dilated or the body secreting growth factors made in the lungs. Sometimes clubbing isn’t apparent, but a test called Schamroh’s test can discover it. The same fingers of the hands are placed together nail to nail, where there should be a tiny, diamond-shaped window between them. If it’s not present, the individual's fingers are clubbed.

Shortness Of Breath

Shortness of breath is when the patient feels they can’t get enough breath and struggles to breathe. Like the other symptoms of tetralogy of Fallot, this is due to low oxygen levels in the body. Interestingly, one way to ease the feeling of breathlessness is for the patient to squat if they are old enough to do so. Squatting works especially well if the shortness of breath has been caused by exertion. The position allows more oxygen to get into the blood because the pressure is temporarily increased in the left ventricle and the aorta, allowing more blood to flow through the pulmonary artery and into the lungs.

Heart Murmur

A heart murmur is a sound of blood flowing through the heart the doctor picks up using a stethoscope. The normal sounds of the heart are made by the contraction of the ventricles and closing up of the heart valves. Besides these sounds, the doctor may hear a swishing sound, which is the heart murmur. Many healthy individuals do have a murmur that does not need to be treated, but in the case of a patient with tetralogy of Fallot, it is caused by a blood flow made turbulent by the defects in the ventricles and valves of the heart.