Objective:

To characterize the demographic and clinical profile of children and adolescents with tetralogy of Fallot and their clinical complications.

Materials and method:

Exploratory, descriptive, quantitative, cross-sectional study, based on the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) initiative. This study involved the analysis of electronic medical records of children and adolescents under follow-up at a reference outpatient clinic in cardiology and pediatric cardiovascular surgery in northeastern Brazil. Data were collected from 2017 to 2019. Demographic and clinical variables and complications were evaluated, and the median, interquartile range, absolute and relative frequencies were calculated.

Results:

Out of 670 children and adolescents treated with congenital heart disease, 104 (15.5%) were diagnosed with tetralogy of Fallot. Most of these were male (59.6%) aged between 10 and 19 (49%). Among the complications identified we can mention ischemic stroke (6.7%), endocarditis (2.9%), and heart failure (1.9%).

Conclusions:

It is necessary that health services and professionals, especially nurses, are prepared to identify the signs and symptoms of tetralogy of Fallot and recognize the possible complications related to this congenital heart disease in order to promote quality health care.

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