Tetralogy of Fallot Surgery

What is Tetralogy of Fallot surgery?

Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) surgery is a surgery done to address an existing heart problem in infants called Tetralogy of Fallot. This defect comprises of four diseases that have an impact on the flow of blood and the oxygen levels of the body in the heart. Pulmonary resection is usually done early in the first two years of life; however it can also be undergone a bit later if the diagnosis spree is delayed.

Key Features of Tetralogy of Fallot

• Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD): An interventricular septum is a hole between the two lower chambers of the heart or ventricles.
• Pulmonary Stenosis: Congenital stenosis of pulmonary valve or artery with diminution of pulmonary circulation.
• Overriding Aorta: The aorta lies anatomically above the VSD; an arterial trunk receiving blood from both the ventricles.
• Right Ventricular Hypertrophy: Hypertrophy of right ventricle’s muscular layer owing to increased workload.

Need for the TOF Surgery

Tetralogy of Fallot it an extensive congenital heart disease that affects the blood circulation and oxygenation processes in the body. Surgery is necessary to correct these anomalies with a view to enhancing oxygen delivery, and reducing signs and potential fatal events.

• Cyanosis (Low Oxygen Levels)
• Improved Growth and Development
• Prevention of Complications
• Clubbing of Fingers and Toes
• Brain Abscess
• Stroke
• Heart Failure
• Improvement in Quality of Life
• Avoidance of Sudden Cardiac Events

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Tetralogy of Fallot Symptoms

Tetralogy of Fallot diagnosis is characteristic for infancy or early childhood, although early signs that lead to suspicion of TOF are sternal and cyanotic spells, which are signs of reduced oxygenation and abnormally directed Blood flow. If these symptoms are recognized early enough, appropriate surgery can be performed in good time.

• Bluish tint to the skin, lips, and nails
• Rapid Breathing
• Shortness of Breath
• Poor Feeding or Weight Gain
• Fatigue and Weakness
• Heart Murmur
• Irritability or Fussiness
• Clubbing of Fingers or Toes

Risk Factors of Tetralogy of Fallot Surgery

Tetralogy of Fallot surgery is, in fact, a very effective and safe operation that can save the life of a child, but no surgical intervention is without danger. These risks vary with the general health of the patient, age when receiving the operation, and the severity of the heart disorder. Many of these complications are non-existent due to recent medical care improvements but should be kept in mind.

• Bleeding
• Infection
• Arrhythmias
• Residual Heart Defects
• Pulmonary Valve Issues
• Stroke or Neurological Complications
• Lung Problems
• Heart Failure
• Reactions to Anaesthesia

Facilities and Services offered to International Patients for Tetralogy of Fallot Surgery

For TOF surgery, patients from different countries can get connected with centers and providers intending at fulfilling all their needs as patients during their time of surgery and beyond. Various medical care facilities operate individual programs for serving international clients are:

• Visa Assistance
• Transportation Services
• Accommodation Arrangements
• Language Support
• Advanced Diagnostics and Treatments
• Follow-up Care

Tetralogy of Fallot Treatment

Preoperative Preparation

• Initial assessment comprises of echocardiogram, MRI scans or CT, blood test and oxygen level exam.
• With a patient under general anaesthesia, meaning the patient is made to unconscious and less sensitive to pain.
• The patient is connected to a heart-lung machine to keep the blood pumping and oxygenated all through the time of surgery.

Types of Surgical Approaches

1. Complete Repair

This is the definitive treatment, which is mostly applied at infancy or early years of growth.

VSD Closure:

• A synthetic or pericardial patch is placed to close the ventricular septal defect and that oxygen rich blood should circulate in the body only.

Pulmonary Valve Repair:

• Removing Obstructions: Benign pulmonary valve or artery stenosis or tissue in the form of narrowings, is relieved.
• Patch Enlargement: It also becomes possible to use a transannular patch to enlarge the pulmonary valve or the pulmonary artery and augment blood circulation to the lungs.

Realignment of Blood Flow:

• The aorta is in the correct orientation so that oxygenated blood will pump of the left ventricle.

2. Palliative Surgery

It’s for babies in need a newborns or for patients who cannot go through a full surgery at that time.

Blalock-Taussig Shunt:

• Anastomosis (a small pipe) is made between a branch of the aorta and the pulmonary artery to facilitate rich blood supply in the lungs.
• Was assisted in the healing process by improving oxygenation as the patient builds up the necessary strength to have complete correction.

3. Closure and Recovery

• The heart is restarted, the heart-lung machine is expelled, revascularization occurs.
• The Surgical wound on the chest is sutured or stapled.
• The patient is then transferred to Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for observation then discharge.

4. Postoperative Care

Monitoring:

• Various heart functions with or without oxygen, the patient’s general condition in the ICU.

Medications:

• Analgesia, antibacterial agents to treat infection, and antirhythmic or antihypertensive agents respectively.

Follow-Up:

• According to the severity, of the heart problem, the individual will need to be taken for periodic check-ups with a cardiologist in consideration of complications such as leakage of the pulmonary valve or an abnormal rate of beating.
• Choosing examinations as echocardiograms to evaluate the efficiency of the repair.

Success Rate of Tetralogy of Fallot Repair

TOF surgery in infancy and childhood has been accomplished with the survival to be greater than 95-98% in the specialized centers, thus late repair in adults also comes out with high rate and people lead normal or near-normal lives.

TOF in Adults

Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is thus a congenital disease, that is, it is known from a patient’s birth. Although the symptoms of TOF are distinct and often begin at infancy, most people live into late adulthood with TOF either after they have had surgery in childhood or if diagnosed later in adulthood. Nonetheless, TOF in adults, there are certain considerations when caring for patients since these defects may lead to lifelong problems or new problems.

Best Hospitals for Tetralogy of Fallot Surgery

Artemis Hospital, Gurgaon
Medanta-The Medicity, Gurgan
Fortis Memorial Research Instiutte, Gurgaon
Max Hospital, Saket
BLK-Max Super Speciality Hospital, New Delhi

Best Doctors for Tetralogy of Fallot Surgery

Dr. Aseem R. SrivastavaDr. Anil Bhan
Dr. Manjinder Sandhu
Dr. Balbir Singh
Dr. T.S Kler

Why Choose GetWellGo for Tetralogy of Fallot Surgery?

GetWellGo is a medical travel and patient assistance which connects patients to the best healthcare services internationally. When considering Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) surgery, there are several reasons why GetWellGo might be a great choice:

• Highly Skilled Paediatric Cardiologists
• Advanced Diagnostic Tools
• Cutting-edge Technology
• Travel Arrangements
• Visa Documentation
• Accommodation Bookings
• Multilingual Staff
• Transparent Pricing

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