How does tetralogy of Fallot affect me?
Most patients are diagnosed with tetralogy of Fallot as infants or young children. Patients with unrepaired tetralogy of Fallot are usually blue (cyanotic). This is true in infants, children and adults with unrepaired tetralogy of Fallot. Most adults with tetralogy of Fallot have had it repaired in childhood. Many people are symptom free but may have residual or recurrent problems. These include valve leakage of blood into the heart’s right side, blockage of blood leaving the heart’s right side and heart rhythm problems. Some patients with these problems may have limited exercise tolerance and may require medicines, repeat operations and/or a special pacemaker to lower the risk of heart rhythm problems. What can be done about tetralogy of Fallot? Tetralogy of Fallot is treated with two kinds of surgery. One provides temporary improvement by a shunt to give more blood flow to the lungs. The other is a complete repair of the two most important abnormalities that make up tetralogy of Fall
