Tetralogy of Fallot

Overview

Tetralogy of Fallot, a heart condition present at birth (congenital heart disease), is a combination of four heart defects. These defects cause several problems in your heart. Tetralogy of Fallot usually causes your skin to turn blue due to poorly oxygenated blood.

The four heart defects include:

• A hole in the heart in the wall between your lower heart chambers (ventricles) that causes oxygen-rich blood and oxygen-poor blood to mix
• A narrowed or blocked passageway between the right ventricle and the main blood vessel leading to your lungs (pulmonary artery) and a narrowed pulmonary valve that causes reduced blood flow to your lungs and requires your heart to work harder
• A shift of the main blood vessel carrying blood to your body (aorta) to the right, which causes oxygen-poor blood to mix with oxygen-rich blood
• Abnormal thickening of the muscular wall of your right ventricle (right ventricular hypertrophy)

Why choose Mayo Clinic for tetralogy of Fallot

• Experience. Mayo Clinic doctors trained in heart and blood vessel conditions (cardiologists) and heart surgery (cardiovascular surgeons) have experience diagnosing and treating people with tetralogy of Fallot.
• Team approach. Mayo Clinic doctors in many areas work together to provide efficient, coordinated care.
• Congenital heart disease treatment. Each Mayo Clinic location offers care for adults with congenital heart diseases, including tetralogy of Fallot. Doctors trained in treating adults and children with congenital heart disease staff the Center for Congenital Heart Disease at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota.
• Diagnostic tests. Mayo Clinic doctors diagnose tetralogy of Fallot and other congenital heart diseases with several tests, including echocardiogram, electrocardiogram, cardiac catheterization and other tests.
• Surgical expertise. Mayo Clinic cardiovascular surgeons have expertise treating tetralogy of Fallot with complete repair surgery to improve your blood flow and to redirect the blood flow in your heart so that your blood flows in the correct direction.
• Research. Mayo Clinic doctors conduct research in new diagnostic tests and treatments for tetralogy of Fallot and conduct clinical trials.

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., is ranked among the Best Hospitals for heart and heart surgery by U.S. News & World Report. Mayo Clinic also ranks among the Best Children's Hospitals for heart and heart surgery.

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At Mayo Clinic, we assemble a team of specialists who take the time to listen and thoroughly understand your health issues and concerns. We tailor the care you receive to your personal health care needs. You can trust our specialists to collaborate and offer you the best possible outcomes, safety and service.

Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical institution that reinvests all earnings into improving medical practice, research and education. We're constantly involved in innovation and medical research, finding solutions to improve your care and quality of life. Your doctor or someone on your medical team is likely involved in research related to your condition.

Our patients tell us that the quality of their interactions, our attention to detail and the efficiency of their visits mean health care — and trusted answers — like they've never experienced.

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Read more about diagnosis and treatment of tetralogy of Fallot.

Related book: Mayo Clinic Healthy Heart for Life! book provides an easy-to-follow plan to prevent and conquer heart disease.