Tetralogy of Fallot

Tetralogy of Fallot is the most common cause of congenital cyanotic heart disease - where the baby appears blue because of the presence of de-oxygenated blood in the circulation. It consists of four defects: a large ventricular septal defect, where there is a hole in the dividing wall between the two ventricles; overriding of the aorta, so that it is joined to both the right and left ventricles rather than just the left; obstruction of the outflow from the right ventricle to the lungs, and enlargement - called hypertrophy - of the right ventricle. It can cause episodes of severe cyanosis, and surgical correction is usually required.
 
 
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