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Tetralogy Of Fallot Essay

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What is Tetralogy Of Fallot?
The definition of TOF reads, a type of congenital heart defect. Congenital means that it is present at birth (UMMC, 2013). TOF occurs when there is 4 abnormalities all together. One of the 4 abnormalities is when a massive hole is in the wall of the muscle (septum) that separates the 2 bottom pumping cambers (ventricles) of the heart. The massive hole in the abnormality itself is a VSD. A VSD is known as a Ventricular Septal Defect. Due to the location of the VSD, two more abnormalities develop. One being that there is a vast blood vessel which take the blood to the body (aorta) is pulled toward, and “overrides” the ventricular septum so that it sits over both the left and right ventricles; this is called an overriding aorta (UMMC, 2013). The second abnormality that takes place is that the muscle produces obstruction to the blood flow going out the right across the pulmonary valve. The right ventricular outflow tract obstruction, can be due to obstruction below the valve, at the valve or in the pulmonary arteries as they deliver blood out to the lungs (UMMC, 2013). There is different severities of TOF. The most acute form is known as pulmonary atresia. In patients with pulmonary atresia there is no functional pulmonary valve. The right ventricular outflow obstruction leads to thickening of the …show more content…

Medical studies report that there is no known cause of TOF. There is some things that can be seen in TOF babies but not the diffident cause. Such as, low oxygen levels, narrowing of the pulmonary outflow tract, thickened wall of the right ventricle and a VSD. However, there are a few genetic syndromes that have been reported. Such as, Down syndrome or DiGeorge syndrome (UMMC, 2013). To add to that, most people with TOF do not have genetic syndromes. Tetralogy Of Fallot does not typically run in families. Although, congenital heart defects are to some extent more common if there is a close relative who has one.
How is TOF

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