Tetralogy of Fallot in India

Experts suggest that the ideal age for surgery for  TOF is between 4 to 6months after birth. However, each case is unique. The pediatric cardiologist assesses how the baby is doing from the outside and also looks at minute details of the TOF anatomy on the echocardiogram and then decides the best time for the surgery. The type of surgery is also determined after careful discussion with the pediatric cardiac surgeon. For eg, sometimes an emergency surgery called BT shunt is required in babies with TOF who get a life threatening cyanotic spell. This BT shunt surgery is followed by the complete repair in some months or an year.

In infants, the common signs are bluish discoloration of the skin, poor feeding, irritability and a general inability to thrive. In children, the signs include getting tired with very little activity, breathing difficulty, episodes of fainting, etc. Children with the condition will tend to ‘squat’ when they have breathing difficulty

Tetralogy of Fallot is a combination of four birth defects of the heart. All of these defects can cause various complications even when occurring alone. So it is natural to have very severe complications when they occur together. Only fifty percent of children without any treatment go on to live for six or more years. Similarly only 10-15% live beyond twenty years