Surgery is the main treatment for Tetralogy of Fallot in infants, including radical surgery and palliative surgery, while symptoms can also be improved by medication and other treatments according to clinical manifestations.
1. Surgical treatment
(1) Radical surgery: If the condition of the body permits, the corresponding anatomical abnormalities can be repaired through surgery, including repairing the ventricular septal defect and unblocking the obstruction of the right ventricular outflow tract, etc., so as to restore the normal body and lung circulation and improve the hypoxia and other manifestations.
(2) Palliative surgery: For a small number of infants with poor pulmonary vascular development and physical conditions that do not allow it, palliative bypass surgery can be performed to increase blood flow to the lungs, thus promoting the development of pulmonary vascularization and improving hypoxia, and creating conditions for future corrective surgery.
2. Medications: Medications need to be used under the guidance of a physician and according to the infant’s condition. Commonly used beta-blockers, such as propranolol, can slow down the heart rate and inhibit the contraction of the muscle part of the right ventricular outflow tract, thus relieving the symptoms of hypoxia.
If an infant is diagnosed with tetralogy of Fallot, early and standardized treatment is recommended to minimize the adverse effects of the disease.