What congenital heart defect is characterized by a ventricular septal defect (VSD) and other abnormalities?

Tetralogy of Fallot is characterized by a combination of four specific cardiac defects, including a ventricular septal defect (VSD), which is a hole in the wall separating the two lower chambers of the heart. In addition to the VSD, Tetralogy of Fallot includes pulmonary stenosis (narrowing of the outflow tract from the right ventricle), right ventricular hypertrophy (thickening of the muscular walls of the right ventricle), and an overriding aorta (the aorta is positioned directly over the ventricular septal defect and straddles both ventricles).

These abnormalities together lead to a significant impact on blood flow, as they can cause oxygen-poor blood to flow to the body, resulting in cyanosis and other clinical manifestations. The presence of the VSD is critical in this condition, as it allows right-to-left shunting, which contributes to the mixing of oxygen-poor and oxygen-rich blood. Understanding this defect is fundamental for identifying symptoms and guiding treatment strategies in affected individuals.