About Coronary artery abnormality happens to adults with TOF?

Question:

Lately i accepted my cardiologist's suggestion to have a cath test, it was simply a test at first. While the procedure going, doctors came over and told me that i might have to get angioplasity. The result is unknown, but one of my coronary arteries is almost invissible... i often feel pain in my chest, is it dangerous?

Answers:
It is difficult to answer your question without more information. Tetralogy of Fallot was once a condition in which patients were rarely expected to reach adulthood. Now, with the advances that have been made in the field of congenital heart disease, individuals with tetralogy of Fallot are living long enough to develop common adult problems including coronary artery disease. Just because someone has TOF does not mean that they can't acquire coronary disease during their adult life. I have had a couple of adult TOF patients who have undergone coronary stenting for significant coronary disease.

Blockages in your coronary artery could certainly result in chest pain, but all chest pain is not necessarily due to coronary disease. It is up to your cardiologist to determine whether the blockages they see are significant enough to warrant angioplasty. Also, without knowing what your doctors saw on your cath, it is difficult to say whether your condition is serious or not.

One thing that I would strongly advise you of is to make sure that you are followed by a cardiologist who is well-informed about the care of adults with congenital heart disease. Adults with repaired (or unrepaired) TOF can have many issues that are not typical of the usual cardiac patient who has heart failure or coronary disease. Good luck to you! Hope that helps!

About Coronary artery abnormality happens to adults with TOF?

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