We're now getting to a more complicated condition called the TETRALOGY OF FALLOT - or ToF, for short. The diseases discussed until now had just one abnormality in the heart - ASD or VSD or PDA. As the name tetralogy implies, there are FOUR abnormalities combined together in this complex heart defect. ToF is also commonly called the "BLUE-BABY" disease.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• What are the components of ToF ?
• Why is it called "Blue Baby Disease" ?
• What exactly happens in ToF ?
• What is a "cyanotic spell" ?
• What happens if ToF is left uncorrected ?
• What are the surgical options ?
• How is a single stage intra-cardiac repair done ?
• Variations in ToF needing modified repair
• What is an "outflow patch" ?
• When is an intracardiac repair NOT possible ?
• What are the palliative operations for ToF ?
• The Blalock-Taussig shunt
• Other systemic-pulmonary shunt procedures
• What is the outcome after a total correction operation ?
• What is the future course after a shunt procedure ?