Tetralogy of Fallot

Tetralogy of Fallot is a rare heart defect that is present at birth. It is the simultaneous occurrence of four different heart defects that lead to low oxygen levels in the blood. Because the blood of these babies doesn't have enough oxygen, the skin has a bluish tinge.

The congenital defect is named after French physician Étienne-Louis Arthur Fallot who described the condition in 1888. Two other physicians, however, had found the defect earlier: Niels Stensen in 1672 and Edward Sandifort in 1773.

In babies who have Tetralogy of Fallot, four specific heart defects comprise the condition. They are:

• Pulmonary valve stenosis: This is a narrowing of the valve that leads from the right ventricle of the heart to the pulmonary artery, through which blood flows to the lungs where it picks up oxygen. Because the valve is narrowed, less blood flows to the lungs and less oxygenated blood flows through the body.
• Ventricular septal defect: This is the defect that commonly is called a hole in the heart. It is a hole in the wall or septum that separates the two lower chambers of the heart called the ventricles. This interferes with the normal pattern of blood flow through the heart. Oxygenated blood mixes with non-oxygenated blood. This dilutes the amount of oxygen-rich blood that flows to the body. At some point, this weakens the heart.
• Overriding aorta: The aorta in babies with this condition is located slightly in a wrong place in the heart. It also results in oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor blood mixing.
• Right ventricular hypertrophy: Because the ventricle that is pumping blood becomes overworked, this can eventually make the heart tissue stiffen, weaken, and at some point fail.

Tetralogy of Fallot Symptoms

Tetralogy of Fallot symptoms are blue-tinged skin, shortness of breath or fast breathing, fainting, slow weight gain, fatiguing easily when playing, long crying spells, and a heart murmur. Should your baby turn blue you need to:

• Immediately place the infant on his or her side
• Pull the knees up to the chest (helping increase blood flow to the lungs. Toddlers or older children may squat instinctively when they become short of breath)
• Call 911

Tetralogy of Fallot Causes

Most causes of the disorder are unknown, however it is known that its origin is somewhere in the development of the fetal heart. The fetus is very susceptible to environmental factors that may interfere with development of organs and body parts.

It is known that lack of good nutrition in the mother, genetic reasons, or viruses may contribute to the formation of this defect. Other risk factors may include alcoholism in the pregnant mother, a mother older than 40 years, a parent who has Tetralogy of Fallot, or having Down syndrome or DiGeorge syndrome.

Birth Defects and SSRIs

Some studies have shown there is a correlation between birth defects in the infant that correlate with medications the mother takes during pregnancy. Some SSRIs, (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) taken by the mother at certain times during her pregnancy, have been linked to birth defects.

SSRIs are a common class of antidepressants. Popular SSRIs include Paxil®, Prozac® Zoloft®, Celexa® and Lexapro®.

Some birth defects with links to mothers' taking medicine during pregnancy include:

• A risk of limb malformation in the infant when the mother takes a tricyclic antidepressant during pregnancy. Further studies are needed to confirm this effect.
• Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn has been linked to citalopram, fluoxetine, and sertraline, when the drugs are taken during the last half of pregnancy.
• Some septal defects of the heart also have been linked to SSRIs.

Contact a Birth Defect Attorney

If you took an SSRI antidepressant during your pregnancy and later had a baby with a birth defect, you might want to contact a birth defect attorney to find out if you and your baby qualify for financial compensation. To schedule a free review of your case, contact the birth defect attorneys at Flood Law Group today.