Jersey #2 was born with the heart defect Tetralogy of Fallot. The details of this defect are pictured in the above image that I borrowed from the American Heart Association's website. There are 4 parts (tetra)...in no particular order...
- Ventricular Septal Defect: this is a hole between the two lower chambers (ventricles) of the heart.
- Pulmonary Stenosis: a narrowing of the path where blood flows from the heart to the lungs.
- Overriding Aorta: The major artery that carries oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the body is out of its place, sitting on top of the hole between the ventricles instead. This allows blood from both chambers (oxygenated and non-oxygenated) to mix together and flow to the body.
- Hypertrophy of the Right Ventricle: the right lower chamber of the heart becomes more muscular, due to the extra work it does to try to push blood through the narrowing at the pulmonary valve.
This combination of problems means that not enough blood is able to get to the lungs to pick up oxygen, and blood with low oxygen levels is sent out to the body. This results in a bluish (cyanotic) appearance, because the body's oxygen saturation levels are lower than normal.
Tetralogy of Fallot must be repaired with open-heart surgery. If left untreated, this condition is fatal. The technology and abilities of the cardiology field have boomed tremendously within the past 4 decades. As a result, babies born with this defect are now able to have all 4 components repaired in 1 single surgery.
Jersey #2 underwent open-heart surgery when she was only 2.5 months old. Surgery lasted 6 hours. She was on the ventilator (breathing tube) for the first 24 hours following surgery. She spent 4 days in Intensive Care, followed by 4 days in the pediatric cardiology ward of the hospital. Her recovery was on the quick end of the spectrum.
The surgeon identified the source of her pulmonary stenosis to be a very underdeveloped pulmonary valve. He had to cut through the valve in order to open up that narrowing to allow blood to flow to the lungs. He left her with a transanular patch to work in place of a pulmonary valve. He was hoping it would take her to adulthood. It lasted 6 years.
Now, she needs a new pulmonary valve to be placed in her heart. This is the open-heart surgery we are facing in a few months.
Tetralogy of Fallot must be repaired with open-heart surgery. If left untreated, this condition is fatal. The technology and abilities of the cardiology field have boomed tremendously within the past 4 decades. As a result, babies born with this defect are now able to have all 4 components repaired in 1 single surgery.
Jersey #2 underwent open-heart surgery when she was only 2.5 months old. Surgery lasted 6 hours. She was on the ventilator (breathing tube) for the first 24 hours following surgery. She spent 4 days in Intensive Care, followed by 4 days in the pediatric cardiology ward of the hospital. Her recovery was on the quick end of the spectrum.
The surgeon identified the source of her pulmonary stenosis to be a very underdeveloped pulmonary valve. He had to cut through the valve in order to open up that narrowing to allow blood to flow to the lungs. He left her with a transanular patch to work in place of a pulmonary valve. He was hoping it would take her to adulthood. It lasted 6 years.
Now, she needs a new pulmonary valve to be placed in her heart. This is the open-heart surgery we are facing in a few months.
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