We are the combination of four hospitals: the General Hospital, the Children’s Hospital, the Women’s Hospital and the Traumatology, Rehabilitation and Burns Hospital. We are part of the Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus: a world-leading health park where healthcare plays a crucial role.
Patients are the centre and the core of our system. We are professionals committed to quality care and our organizational structure breaks down the traditional boundaries between departments and professional groups, with an exclusive model of knowledge areas.
Would you like to know what your stay at Vall d'Hebron will be like? Here you will find all the information.
The commitment of Vall d'Hebron University Hospital to innovation allows us to be at the forefront of medicine, providing first class care adapted to the changing needs of each patient.
A congenital cyanotic heart defect is a congenital heart disorder in which deoxygenated blood bypasses the lungs and enters the circulatory system, or where there is a mixture of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood entering the system. It is caused by structural defects in the heart such as bidirectional shunting, or the incorrect position of the pulmonary artery or the aorta, or any condition that increases pulmonary vascular resistance. The result is the development of collateral circulation.
Children with this heart condition will have the following symptoms:
Tetralogy of Fallot makes up 10% of all congenital heart disorders and is considered the most common cyanotic heart disease. There are around 400 cases for every million births.
Diagnosis is confirmed via 2D echocardiogram.
Repair is carried out around six months old. If the baby suffers a episode before the defect has been corrected, treatment is started in the form of beta blockers to reduce lung spasms.
If very severe cyanotic episodes persist in babies under six months despite this treatment, then palliative surgery needs to be performed to take blood to the lungs. This surgery consists of making a connection between a systemic artery and the pulmonary arteries (a systemic-pulmonary fistula).
The definitive corrective surgery involves closing the ventricular septal defect with a patch and widening the outlet from the right ventricle.
In cases of severe pulmonary insufficiency there is progressive dilatation of the right ventricle in the long term. If this becomes excessive, it is necessary to replace the valve. Risk of lung valve replacement is around 20% after 25 years.
Unfortunately, there are currently no measures that can be taken to prevent this heart condition.
The acceptance of these terms implies that you give your consent to the processing of your personal data for the provision of the services you request through this portal and, if applicable, to carry out the necessary procedures with the administrations or public entities involved in the processing. You may exercise the mentioned rights by writing to web@vallhebron.cat, clearly indicating in the subject line “Exercise of LOPD rights”. Responsible entity: Vall d’Hebron University Hospital (Catalan Institute of Health). Purpose: Subscription to the Vall d’Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus newsletter, where you will receive news, activities, and relevant information. Legal basis: Consent of the data subject. Data sharing: If applicable, with VHIR. No other data transfers are foreseen. No international transfer of personal data is foreseen. Rights: Access, rectification, deletion, and data portability, as well as restriction and objection to its processing. The user may revoke their consent at any time. Source: The data subject. Additional information: Additional information can be found at https://hospital.vallhebron.com/es/politica-de-proteccion-de-datos.