Cardio Flashcards
Describe the foetal circulation.
- oxygenated bloods from placenta is carried via umbilical vein into IVC
- oxygenated blood arrives at RA and flows through foramen ovale into LA then to LV –> aorta and body
- portion of blood makes it to RV and is pumped to pulmonary artery which moves to aorta via ductus arteriosus (high pressure in collapsed lung)
what could go wrong to cause congenital heart defects?
- Genes like trisomy 21, cardiomyopathy genes
- Environment factors such as teratogens like alcohol, smoking, warfarin and lithium
- Maternal disorders like rubella
- Maternal diabetes
what are the foetal shunts available?
- Foramen ovale : from foetally higher pressure RA to LA via atrial septum with intention of bypassing the lungs
- Ductus arteriosus : shunt from pulmonary artery into aorta to bypass lungs in systole
- Ductus venosus : umbilical vein into IVC (bypassing liver?)
what cause the foetal shunts to close?
- with initial breaths and increase in volume of blood to lungs and resistance in pulmonary circulation the LA pressure rises
- RA pressure falls due to exclusion of placental circulation and this change in pressure causes foramen ovale flap to shut - septum primum against septum secundum
- ductus arteriosus closes within first few hours to days
what might be the initial presentation of a congenital heart defect?
- antenatal cardiac USS detects 50-60%
- cyanosis at birth
- detection of murmur
- HF
- shock when foramen ovale shuts causing obstruction
how do you differentiate between an innocent murmur and a pathological one?
- aSymptomatic
- Soft blowing murmur
- Systolic murmur only
- left Sternal edge
how does HF present in a baby?
- breathlessness
- sweating
- poor feeding
- recurrent chest infections
- poor weight gain, tachypnoea, tachycardia, murmur etc
what are some examples of acyanotic heart defects?
- VSD
- ASD
- PDA
- coarctation of aorta
- aortic valve stenosis
what are some classic features of an acyanotic heart lesion?
- L -> R shunting with mixing
- increased pulmonary blood flow risking pulmonary HTN and Eisenmenger
- lesions above nipple ejection systolic murmur
- lesions below nipple pan systolic murmur
What are some examples of cyanotic congenital heart disease?
- TOF
- TGA
- tricuspid atresia
what is an ASD?
left to right shunt from LA into RA down pressure gradient
- acyanotic
- may lead to right sided strain and Eisenmenger
- types: ostium secondum, primum and patent foramen ovale
what might you find on examination for ASD?
- Ejection systolic murmur heard loudest at the upper-left sternal border
- Widely fixed splitting of the second heart sound
how might ASD present?
*asymptomatic, recurrent infections
- may present at 4-5y
- 40+ with arrhythmias and dyspnoea
how might you investigate acyanotic congenital heart defects?
- pulse oximetry
- Echo
- CXR: cardiomegaly and pulmonary oedema?
- ECG: may show hypertrophy
how is an ASD managed?
- 7-8mm may spontaneously close so w&w
- large defects require percutaneous catheter closure via femoral vein
- tx at about 3-5y to prevent RHF and arrhythmias
what is a VSD?
VSD means left to right shunt from LV into RV down pressure gradient through a defect in septum
*most common CHD
*associated with Down’s and Turner’s
how might VSD present?
Small – may be asymptomatic, normal growth
Moderate – poor feeding, failure to thrive (FTT), short of breath (SOB)
Large – poor feeding, FTT (falls below centiles), SOB, sweaty and pale with feeds