Question

Which congenital heart defects are "trouble?"

Answer 1

Tetralogy of Fallot is a serious congenital heart defect characterized by four anatomical abnormalities, leading to symptoms like heart murmurs and cyanosis.

Step-by-step explanation:

Certain congenital heart defects can cause significant trouble and require medical attention. Among these, Tetralogy of Fallot stands out due to its complexity and seriousness. It includes four anatomical abnormalities of the heart: pulmonary infundibular stenosis, overriding aorta, ventricular septal defect, and right ventricular hypertrophy. This condition, which is a common cause of cyanosis in newborns, is characterized by symptoms such as difficulty breathing, heart murmurs, and blue-colored skin. Other troubling congenital defects include patent ductus arteriosus, where the ductus arteriosus fails to close post-birth, and coarctation of the aorta, which is an abnormal narrowing of the aorta.

Diagnosis usually starts with auscultation and is followed by imaging techniques like echocardiography to confirm the defect. Treatment depends on the severity and nature of the defect, ranging from surgical interventions to mere monitoring. The survival rates for congenital conditions like Tetralogy of Fallot have improved, but they still pose a significant mortality risk, underscoring the importance of early detection and treatment.

Answer 2

Septal defects, specifically Tetralogy of Fallot, are congenital heart defects that can cause mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood, leading to symptoms such as difficulty in breathing and cyanosis. Treatment involves surgery for repair.

Step-by-step explanation:

Septal defects are not uncommon in individuals and may be congenital or caused by various disease processes. Tetralogy of Fallot is a congenital condition that occurs when there is an opening in the interventricular septum caused by blockage of the pulmonary trunk.

This allows blood that is low in oxygen from the right ventricle to mix with the high oxygenated blood in the left ventricle. Symptoms include a distinct heart murmur, low blood oxygen saturation, difficulty in breathing, and clubbing of fingers and toes. Tetralogy of Fallot is the most common cause of cyanosis following birth and requires extensive surgical repair.