Why is tetralogy of Fallot a concern?
The amount of oxygen-poor (blue) blood that passes through the VSD to the left side of the heart varies. If the right ventricle obstruction is severe, or if the pressure in the lungs is high, a large amount of oxygen-poor (blue) blood passes through the VSD, mixes with the oxygen-rich (red) blood in the left ventricle, and is pumped to the body. The more blood that goes through the VSD, the less blood that goes through the pulmonary artery to the lungs, and the less oxygen-rich (red) blood that returns to the right side of the heart. Soon, nearly all the blood in the left ventricle is oxygen-poor (blue). This is an emergency situation, as the body will not have enough oxygen to meet its needs. Some situations, such as crying, increase the pressure in the lungs temporarily, and increasing blueness might be noted as a baby with tetralogy of Fallot cries. In other situations, the pathway from the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery becomes tighter, preventing much blood from passing t
