What is tetralogy of Fallot? Tetralogy of Fallot is the most common form of cyanotic congenital heart disease. The basic pathological changes include ventricular septal defect, pulmonary artery stenosis, right ventricular hypertrophy, and aortic span. The left heart pumps blood to the body circulation through the aorta, and the right heart pumps blood to the pulmonary circulation through the pulmonary artery. The pulmonary artery stenosis is like the right heart being stuck in the neck, and the blood cannot all enter the lungs smoothly for oxygenation, and part of it enters the body circulation directly through the left ventricle through the septal defect, so the oxygen content of the child’s blood is low, and the child becomes purple. What kind of children should be alerted to have tetralogy of Fallot? After birth, the lips, hands and feet become purple and black, and the color deepens when crying. When crying is severe or the amount of activity is intense, there are signs such as respiratory arrest, rolling eyes and fainting. Patients have delayed development, can talk and walk later, and older children are less active, preferring to be held by adults and squatting. Why do you get tetralogy of Fallot? The cause of prediabetes is still unclear, and it is generally believed that it may be related to environmental pollution, radiation, infection during pregnancy, genetic inheritance, and genetic mutation. What should I do if I suspect that my child has Tetralogy of Fallot? You should go to our outpatient clinic for chest X-ray, ultrasound and electrocardiogram. Ultrasound can usually make a clear diagnosis, and cardiac CT or angiography may be needed to further understand the development of the pulmonary arteries and the side branches of the body lungs. When is the right time to operate after diagnosis? Most medical centers currently recommend surgery at 6-12 months of age, while some centers advocate surgery as early as possible in the neonatal period. Depending on the development of the pulmonary arteries, there are two types of surgery: radical surgery and palliative surgery. The main purpose of palliative surgery is to increase pulmonary blood flow, improve hypoxia and promote pulmonary artery growth in preparation for the second stage radical surgery. Is the risk of surgery very high? The success rate of surgery for tetralogy of Fallot is very high, with a mortality rate of about 1% reported in the foreign literature and less than 1% for surgery at Fu Wai Hospital. Is there a high incidence of secondary surgery after surgery for tetralogy of Fallot? The incidence of secondary surgery after surgery for tetralogy of Fallot is not high. The reasons for secondary surgery in the long term include pulmonary regurgitation, stenosis, right heart failure, and right ventricular outflow tract restenosis.