Heart Defects

What are congenital heart defects (CHD)?

abnormality in the heart that develops before birth

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effects the way blood flows through the heart

What are congenital heart defects (CHD) that increase pulmonary blood flow?

- VSD (ventricular septal defect)

- ASD ((atrial septal defect)

- PDA (patent ductus arteriosus)

These defects allow blood to shift from the high pressure left side of the heart to the right, lower pressure side of the heart.

What is PDA (patent ductus arteriosus)?

Normal fetal circulation conduit between the pulmonary artery and the aorta fails to close and results in increase pulmonary blood flow (LEFT to RIGHT shunt)

What are congenital heart defects (CHD) that causes obstruction?

- Pulmonary stenosis

- Aortic Stenosis

- Coarctation of the aorta

These include those where blood flow exiting the heart meets an area of narrowing (STENOSIS), which causes obstruction of blood flow.

What is Coarctation of the aorta?

A narrowing of the lumen of the aorta, usually at or near the ductus arteriosus, that results in obstruction of blood flow from the ventricle

What are assessment findings of Coarctation of the aorta?

- Elevated BP in arms

- bounding pulses in upper extremities

- decreased BP in lower extremities

- weak or absent femoral pulses

What are defects that decrease pulmonary blood flow?

These defects have an obstruction of pulmonary blood flow and an anatomic (ASD or VSD) between the right and left sides of the heart.

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This allows right to left shift allowing deoxygenated blood to enter the systemic circulation

What are the names of the different types of defects that decrease pulmonary blood flow?

- Tricuspid atresia

- Tetralogy of Fallot

What is Tetralogy of Fallot?

FOUR DEFECTS that result in mixed blood flow:

1. Pulmonary stenosis

2. VSD (ventricular septal defect)

3. overriding aorta

4. right ventricular hypertrophy

What are assessment findings of Tetralogy of Fallot?

- Cyanosis at birth

- Progressive cyanosis over first year of life

- Systolic murmur

- Episodes of acute cyanosis and hypoxia (blue or "TET" SPELLS)

What is Transposition of the great arteries?

The aorta is connected to the right ventricle instead of the left, and the pulmonary artery is connected to the left ventricle instead of the right.

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A septal defect or a PDA must exist in order to oxygenate the blood.