​Pathology - Tetralogy of Fallot

​Pathology - Tetralogy of Fallot

The condition is caused by the displacement of the infundibular septum towards the front and top, leading to an unequal split of the aorta and pulmonary artery.
The tetralogy consists of four specific cardiac abnormalities: pulmonary stenosis, right ventricular hypertrophy, ventricular septal defect (VSD), and aorta overriding the VSD.

Symptoms and signs 
The outcome is a condition where there is a flow of blood from the right side of the heart to the left side, resulting in the early onset of bluish discoloration of the skin at birth, increased levels of carbon dioxide in the blood, and an inability to grow and develop properly.
Medical imaging: X-ray reveals heart with a form resembling a boot

Management 
The full repair procedure entails surgical intervention to seal the ventricular septal defect (VSD) and reconstruct the outflow tract of the right ventricle. Palliative surgery, which involves anastomosis of the subclavian artery to the pulmonary artery to create a bypass around the right heart, is a viable option for newborns with severe symptoms. 
The clinical prognosis relies on the degree of pulmonary stenosis and the adequacy of surgical intervention.