TETRALOGY OF FALLOT

The four abnormalities shown on the right characterize this fairly common condition:

1. There is a ventricular septal defect.
2. There is narrowing of the valve leading to the pulmonary arteries (pulmonic stenosis)
3. The aorta "overrides" the ventricular septal defect.
4. There is thickening (hypertrophy) of the right ventricle.

There is decreased flow of blood to the lungs, as well as mixing of the blood from each side of the heart. Despite its seeming complexity, it is quite common and often can be completely repaired.
©COPY;1997 HeartPoint   Updated November 1997

For more about Congenital Disease, also see these related subjects on HeartPoint:

| Congenital Heart Disease |  Atrial Septal Defect  |  Coarctation of the Aorta  |   Ebstein's Anomaly  |  Patent Ductus   |  Tetralogy of Fallot  |
|  Transposition of the Great Vessels |  Truncus Arteriosus  |  Ventricular Septal Defect  |

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