Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Echo in Tetralogy of Fallot
Introduction
Associate Editors-In-Chief:Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2], Priyamvada Singh, MBBS
Tetralogy of Fallot
Tetralogy of fallot is a congenital heart disease comprised of four anatomic features stemming from the malalignment of the infundibular septum:
- Right ventrifular outflow obstruction (pulmonic stenosis)
- Ventricular Septal Defect
- Overriding aorta
- Right ventricular hypertrophy
- Clinically, it is a cyanotic heart defect and generally is diagnosed in infancy or early childhood.
Echo functions in Tetralogy of Fallot
- Characterization of defects
- Options for surgical intervention
- Post-operative repair function
Best evaluated by:
- parasternal long-axis view
- short-axis view (to evaluate size of septal defect)
Post surgical evaluation should include:
- Evaluation of VSD repair
- Residual shunting
- Right ventricular size and contractility
- Right ventricular outflow tract for residual stenosis
- Severity of pulmonary regurgitation
Additional Resource
Additional Resource
Yale University School of Medicine Congenital Heart Disease: Tetralogy of Fallot
External Links
External Links
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]