The parents of a 3-year-old ask the nurse about the defects associated with Tetralogy of Fallot. Which of the following is the correct response by the nurse?

Explanation

• It is called a tetralogy because four anomalies are present: pulmonary valve stenosis, a ventricular septal defect (usually large), an overriding of the aorta, and hypertrophy of the right ventricle.

• Because of the (1) pulmonary stenosis, blood increases in pressure in the right side of the heart.

• Blood then shunts from this area of increased pressure into the left ventricle through the (2) septal defect and also the (3) overriding aorta (the aortic opening is directly over the septal defect), allowing deoxygenated blood to enter the systemic circulation.

• The extra work involved to force blood through the stenosed pulmonary artery causes the fourth deformity, (4) hypertrophy of the right ventricle.

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