Irene DeLaCruz

ISM- Period 7

Hyperarts, Rob Mayfield -. Tetralogy of Fallot. Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery - Tetralogy of Fallot,

The Regents of University of California, pediatricct.surgery.ucsf.edu/conditions--

procedures/tetralogy-of-fallot.aspx.

A physical exam by a doctor, with signs and symptoms, is what diagnosis a person with
TOF
These signs and symptoms are usually seen at birth (seen during first weeks of birth)
An infant with TOF is usually associated with a cardiac surgeon and a pediatric
cardiologist
Cardiac surgeon is the doctor who diagnosis the disease as well as assists in treating the
patient after diagnosis
Pediatric cardiologist actually does the surgery that essentially repairs the heart in getting
it to normal
Many doctors will look at facial features because many patients with TOF have DiGeorge
Syndrome (a defect within chromosome 22)
There are several tests used to diagnose a patient
1.) Echocardiography
2.) Electrocardiogram (EKG)
3.) Chest X-Ray
4.) Pulse Oximetry
5.) Cardiac Catheterization
Echocardiography (ultrasound of the heart also known as echo) uses sound waves to
create a visual representation of the heart
A computer converts the sound waves that ricochet off of the inside of the heart
The echo test allows the doctors to see the heart and how it is due to the 4 heart defects
Being able to see the heart allows the doctor to see what type of surgery is needed for the
patient
After the surgery doctors still use this test to check up on the patient and see how they are
The EKG shows the speed and rate of the heart while recording any electrical activity
This test allows doctors to see if there is any enlargement of the right ventricle which
happens to be one of the heart defects of TOF (ventricular hypertrophy)
The chest x-ray just scans images of the heart to see if there is any excess fluid in the
lungs or enlargement of the heart
The pulse oximetry test allows doctors to get an estimate of the amount of oxygen in the
blood by attaching a sensor to the tip of a toe or finger
During catheterization a thin tube is inserted into a vein on the upper thigh that then goes
to the heart
A dye is put inside catheter that goes to the heart, the doctor then can see the blood flow
of the heart and where in the heart the blood is mixing

This source gave very good information about what is used to diagnose a person with
TOF and went in depth about what each test specifically does.