Cardiology Flashcards
How can congenital heart defects be classified?
Acyanotic vs. cyanotic…
Acyanotic:
- Ventricular septal defect (VSD)
- Atrial septal defect (ASD)
- Persistent ductus arteriosus (PDA)
Cyanotic:
- Tetralogy of Fallot (ToF)
- Transposition of the great arteries (TGA)
Which congenital heart defects are associated with outflow obstruction in a well child?
- Pulmonary stenosis
- Aortic stenosis
Which congenital heart defect is associated with outflow obstruction in a sick neonate?
Coarctation of the aorta
Which chromosomal disorders are associated with which specific congenital heart defects?
- Down’s syndrome = AVSD
- Turner’s syndrome = bicuspid aortic valve, CoA
- William’s syndrome = supravalvular aortic stenosis
- Noonan syndrome = pulmonary stenosis
How are congenital heart defects picked up?
- Antenatal ultrasound diagnosis
- Asymptomatic murmur
- Symptoms of heart failure, cyanosis or shock
What are the features of an innocent murmur?
Hallmarks of an innocent murmur are (all have an S, innoSent):
- aSymptomatic
- Soft blowing murmur
- Systolic murmur only, not diastolic
- left Sternal edge
- poSture (varies with change in posture)
What is an ASD?
An ASD is a condition where there is a hole in the atrial septum
Which murmur is associated with ASD?
Ejection systolic murmur (plus fixed split S2)
Describe the management of ASD
- Small = close spontaneously
- Large = catheter device closure/surgery
Describe the epidemiology of VSDs
VSDs are the most common type of congenital heart defect - they account for around 30% of all congenital heart defects
Which murmur is associated with VSD?
Pansystolic murmur
Describe the management of VSDs
- Small = close spontaneously
- Large = catheter device closure/surgery
What is the ductus arteriosus?
Describe the pathophysiology of PDA
The ductus arteriosus connects the pulmonary artery to the descending aorta (it is an essential part of the foetal circulation)
In term infants, the DA normally closes shortly after birth; in PDA, it has failed to close by 1 month after expected date of delivery
Which murmur is associated with PDA?
Continuous “machinery” murmur
Describe the medical and interventional management of PDA
Medical:
- Indomethacin or ibuprofen
Interventional:
- Catheter device closure
What are the four cardinal features of Tetralogy of Fallot?
- Large VSD
- Overriding aorta
- Pulmonary stenosis (causing RV outflow obstruction)
- and RV hypertrophy as a result
What are the symptoms and signs of Tetralogy of Fallot?
Symptoms:
- Severe cyanosis/hypercyanotic spells
Signs:
- Ejection systolic murmur
- Clubbing in older children
Describe the immediate and definitive management of Tetralogy of Fallot
Immediate:
- In the sick, cyanosed neonate the key is to improve mixing of blood by maintaining patency of ductus arteriosus
- This is done using a prostaglandin infusion
Definitive:
- Surgery to correct VSD/pulmonary stenosis
Describe the pathophysiology of transposition of the great arteries (TGA)
In TGA, the aorta is connected to the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery is connected to the left ventricle