Advanced Pathophysiology Congenital Heart Defects Flashcards
The word congenital** refers to
existing at birth
Congenital heart defects may develop from
chromosome abnormalities
single-gene abnormalities
conditions during pregnancy that affect the baby
combination of genetic and environmental problems
unknown causes
Of children with a heart defect, 30% have other
physical, developmental & cognitive disorders
Diagnosis of cardiac anomalies may be done
in utero, found on newborn physical, ECHO, EKG, Chest x-ray, cardiac cath, CMRI, CT, TEE, Holter recording
Preop eval for cardiac anomalies focuses on
heart murmur on preop evaluation
functional status, growth & development
reviews most recent echo/labs/tests
-children with a history of CHF, cyanosis, pHTN, and young age are at a potentially higher risk
There is _______ secondary to fluid filled lungs and a hypoxic environment.
high PVR
There is _______ secondary to large surface area of the low resistance utero-placental bed
low SVR
The most oxygenated blood from the _____ perfuses the _________ by shunting across the liver via the ductus venosus and shunting across the heart via the foramen ovale
umbilical vein; brain & heart
___________ precipitates the transition from fetal to adult circulation
clamping of the umbilical cord and inflation of the lungs
Lug inflation increases
PaO2
lowers PVR, increasing pulmonary blood flow and increased return to LA
increased LA pressure above RA pressure causes a functional closure of the PFO
The ductus arteriosus remains patent in utero due to
hypoxia, mild acidosis, and placental prostaglandins***
-removal of these factors at birth causes functional closure of DA
A PDA often occurs in
premature infants with lung disease
______ can be used to try & close a PDA
Indomethacin***** (an anti-prostaglandin)
Certain _______ can cause the newborn to revert to fetal circulation
physiologic stresses
The neonatal myocardium is characterized by general
immaturity & decreased number of myofibrils
-decreased contractility & decreased relaxation
The neonatal myocardium includes:
RV & LV are equal in size
- parasympathetic is well developed
- sympathetic innervation is poorly developed
- immature SR results in poor release & reuptake of intracellular calcium
Classifications of CHD classified as
L-R shunts- “pink lesions”
R-L shunts- “blue lesions”
obstructive
“mixed” or cyanotic****
Describe left to right shunts & provide examples.
connects arterial and venous circulation resulting in increased pulmonary blood flow “pink lesions”
E.g. PDA, ASD, VSD
Describe right to left shunts & provide examples
venous blood is ejected systemically; there is decreased pulmonary blood flow & patients are cyanotic “blue lesions”
- e.g. ASD or VSD with pulmonary HTN, TOF during Tet spell
Describe obstructive CHD & provide examples.
prevent ventricular flow from either side of the heart, decrease cardiac output
-e.g. coarctation of the aorta, aortic stenosis
Describe “mixed” or cyanotic CHD & provide examples.
mixing of venous & arterial blood
-e.g. hypoplastic left heart syndrome
Large left to right shunts result in pulmonary over circulation. ______ is increased as a large component of LV output bypasses the systemic circulation, enters the lungs and rapidly returns to the left side of the heart.
RV preload
Describe Eisenmenger’s syndrome.
when large VSDS are uncorrected, the resulting pulmonary hypertension can reverse the shunting of blood across the defect. The previously “left to right shunt becomes right to left
Mixing lesions occur when a
functional single ventricle ejects the mixed systemic and pulmonary venous return.
Patients with mixing lesions are often
cyanotic and are often dependent on the PDA at birth
An atrial septal defect is often
asymptomatic and discovered incidentally (murmur)
Large atrial septal defects that are left untreated can cause
right sided volume overload (usual Qp/Qs>2) with RA & RV dilation & increased pulmonary blood flow
Repair for an atrial septal defect can be
a closure device in cath lab or surgery
The most common congenital defect in children is
ventricular septal defect
A ventricular septal defect leads to
pulmonary over circulation due to left to right shunting in an isolated lesion
if defect is large pressure equalizes in both ventricles & pulmonary blood flow will be greater leading to symptoms of CHF & irreversible damage to pulmonary vascular bed
_______ syndrome may occur in ventricular septal defect and describes the shunt reversing direction when the PVR is high enough.
Eisenmenger’s
Describe restrictive VSD.
small size & limited pulmonary over circulation
Describe unrestrictive VSD.
large flow across the septum with balance between SVR & PVR
Isolated large VSDs are managed via
diuretics for the first few months of life
Indications for surgery for VSD include
poor feeding, reduced weight gain, & increases in incidence of respiratory infections
The _________ is at risk during VSD repair.
conduction system that runs along the ventricular septum
As PVR falls in the first months of life, the flow across the VSD can
increase greatly (as high as Qp/Qs >3)