tet spell

An episode of hypoxia, cyanosis, dyspnoea, restlessness and syncope with acutely decreased arterial PO2 and decrease of already compromised pulmonary blood flow, seen in Fallot’s tetralogy, but also in other cyanotic congenital heart malformations

tet spell

A colloquial term for an episode of severe hypoxia and cyanosis in a child with tetralogy of Fallot. During a spell, blood from the right ventricle flows across the defect in the child's interventricular septum, bypassing the pulmonary artery and lungs, thus depriving the child of oxygen.