Word parts
What it means
A heart defect present at birth with four parts: a hole between the ventricles (ventricular septal defectven-TRIK-yuh-ler SEP-tul DEE-fektA hole in the wall between the heart's two lower chambers, present from birth.Full entry ), narrowing at or below the pulmonary valve (pulmonary stenosis), an aorta that sits over the hole (overriding aorta), and a thickened right ventricle. Blood low in oxygen passes into the aorta, so the child can look bluish (cyanosissy-uh-NOH-sisA blue or gray color of the skin, lips or nail beds.cyan/o blue-osis abnormal conditionFull entry ). It is repaired with surgery, usually in the first year of life. It is named after Étienne-Louis Fallot, the French physician who described it in 1888.
For the nurse
During a "tet spell" (sudden deep cyanosis, often with crying or feeding), keep the child calm and place them in a knee-chest position, which increases blood flow to the lungs; give oxygen and medicines as ordered and report it. Older children may squat to get the same effect.
Remember it
Four parts, "tetra" means four.
At a glance
| Abbreviations | TOF |
|---|---|
| Also written | TOF, ToF |
Related terms
cyanosis
A blue or gray color of the skin, lips or nail beds.
ventricular septal defect
A hole in the wall between the heart's two lower chambers, present from birth.
congenital heart defect
A problem in the structure of the heart or its large blood vessels that is present at birth.