Tetralogy Of Fallot Research Paper

Congenital heart disease is a cardiovascular condition resulting from an abnormality in the structure of the heart. The exact time this defect forms is unknown but it is during the fetal development in the womb. Researchers think the defect could be case partially by genetics and medical conditions of the fetus and the parents. If the baby’s mother had rubella, while pregnant or other conditions such as diabetes could have caused the defect. Some medications that were taken by a pregnant mother could also have caused birth defects. An error on chromosome 22 could also have caused the heart defect. Some symptoms that a person may have a congenital heart may not show up until later in life but many children also have the symptoms. Symptoms of a congenital heart defect are abnormal heartbeat, bluish tint to skin, shortness of breath, dizziness or fainting, and swelling of body tissues and organs.

A bluish discolouration of the mucous membrane can be a sign of cyanosis, this is the result of unoxygenated haemoglobin in the blood (Dieckmann, Brownstein and Gausche-Hill, 2006).

Inability for the baby's body to detect a build-up of carbon dioxide in the blood

amount of fluid pressure quickly back through the lungs and causes right sided heart failure. Either sides of the

How will you explain this to a patient? The blue coloration of the skin indicates that the blood has an inadequate amount of oxygen. This may be due to several factors but whatever the reason it is considered an emergency medical condition. It may mean a severe circulatory failure. It can be a a sign of diabetes Women with diabetes during pregnancy and those taking some prescription and over-the-counter medications and street drugs during pregnancy have a high risk of giving

The Boston Children’s Hospital defines this as a condition where there is too much bilirubin in a baby’s blood and other tissues and fluids.

Congenital heart disease include many different types of defects. Some of these defects are simple, such as a hole in the septum. Others, are more complex and severe that include combinations of simple defects, problems with the location of blood vessels leading to and from the heart and other serious problems with the development of the heart. The different types of defects ranging from simple to complex are holes in the heart (septal defects or atrial septal defects-ASD), Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA-abnormal blood flow occurs between the aorta and pulmonary artery), Narrowed valves

The normal flow of blood through the heart consists of the entry of blood to the right atrium through to the right ventricle and then the blood passes through the tricuspid valve entering the lungs and then through to the left atrium and to the left ventricle via the mitral valve and finally into the body. During fetal development, however there are the risks for congenital anomalies. These congenital heart disorders consist of Atrial septal defect (ASD) and Ventricular septal defect (VSD). ASD is one of the common congenital heart defects that requires interventional measures or repair. The condition occurs when the foramen ovale the opening between the atria prior to birth does not close and there

Congenital Heart Defect’s (CHD) affect about 1% of all births in the United States or about 40,000 babies per year (www.CDC.gov). Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is a CHD that accounts for an estimated 10% of these births. There are many factors that are involved in the diagnosis, treatment and quality of life for these children. The effects of the CHD vary in severity, therefore the effects it has on a child’s life vary. The etiology of TOF, how specific organs, cells, and tissues are affected, and what organ systems are affected will all be discussed and explained. . The effects vary greatly between patients this paper will focus on the average effects of this condition in order to provide a better understanding of TOF.

Having a diagnosis of Tetralogy of Fallot should mean having a death sentence. With an occurrence rate of 3 in every 10,000, it is the most common cause of cyanotic cardiac disease. [Wynbrandt, 366] There are four defects that commonly occur together; ventricular septal defect, hypertrophied right ventricle, malposition of the aorta, and pulmonary stenosis. For one to be diagnosed as a Tetralogy of Fallot baby, the patient must present with at least two of the four defects. Any one of these defects can cause serious catastrophe to the cardiac system. Combining these defects together makes it that much more complicated for the cardiologist to correct. Without the advancements made in cardiology, this diagnosis would mean certain death to the postnatal child.

rich blood reaches the extremities and this leads to the blue appearance. Peripheral cyanosis can

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a problem with the heart's structure and function that is present at birth (Weinrauch, 2015). Congenital heart disease is divided into two types, cyanotic (turns the skin blue due to a lack of oxygen) and non-cyanotic. Cyanotic heart diseases include Ebstein’s anomaly, tricuspid atresia, tetralogy of Fallot, Truncus arteriosus, transportation of the great vessels, pulmonary atresia, hypoplatstic left heart, and total anomalous pulmonary venous return. Non-cyanotic heart diseases include aortic stenosis, pulmonic stenosis, patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), arterial septic defect (ASD), coarctation of the aorta, ventricular septal defect (VSD), and atrioventricular canal (endocardial cushion defect).

(Cole, 2010) The chest x-ray for these babies generally presents with a ground glass appearance, hyper expanded lung fields with densities and possibly pulmonary edema. Extended periods of use on the mechanical ventilator for preterm and under weight infants can lead to BDP due to decreasing lung compliance from poor perfusion extending from a suspected hypoxemic and hypercapneic state. (ALA, 2008) Even though these babies are on the ventilator, they will still present with shallow breathing, cyanosis, tachypnea, retractions, and scattered rales on the chest x-ray. Later in life, babies who overcome BDP can suffer from developmental problems, poor growth, and possibly pulmonary hypertension. Upon auscultation, there will be coarse rhonchi breath sounds with possible rales, paradoxical breathing and an increase in the rate the patient is breathing. The dynamic lung compliance is reduced hindmost because of the increasing damage that is taking place in the small airway. (ALA, 2008)

Ventricular septal defect is a hole in the heart. The hole is in the lower septum, this allows blood to pass from left to right of the heart. This causes the oxygenated blood

• The most apparent symptom is a facial birthmark or port wine stain. This is present at birth. It usually involves at least one upper eyelid and the forehead. The stain ranges in color from light pink to deep purple. It is caused by an overabundance of capillaries just beneath the surface of the affected skin.