TOF stands for Tetralogy of Fallot, a serious heart defect present at birth. It is characterized by four distinct heart abnormalities:
- Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD): A hole in the wall separating the two lower chambers of the heart (ventricles).
- Pulmonary Stenosis: Narrowing of the pulmonary valve, which controls blood flow from the right ventricle to the lungs.
- Overriding Aorta: The aorta, the main artery carrying blood from the heart, sits directly over the VSD instead of only over the left ventricle.
- Right Ventricular Hypertrophy: The right ventricle is enlarged due to the increased workload it experiences in pumping blood through the narrowed pulmonary valve.
These abnormalities cause oxygen-poor blood to mix with oxygen-rich blood, resulting in a lack of oxygen to the body. This can lead to various symptoms, including:
- Cyanosis: Bluish discoloration of the skin, especially around the lips and fingertips.
- Fatigue: Feeling tired easily.
- Shortness of breath: Difficulty breathing, especially during exertion.
- Clubbing: Swelling of the fingertips and toes.
- Delayed growth: Children with TOF may grow more slowly than their peers.
Treatment for TOF typically involves surgery to repair the heart defects. The type of surgery depends on the severity of the condition and the age of the patient. In some cases, a catheter-based procedure may be used to widen the narrowed pulmonary valve.
