Cardiothoracic Flashcards
What symptoms can be seen with Vascular rings?
(Congenital) Pressure on tracheobronchial tree and esophagus by a ring formed from the aorta and surrounding vessels.
Stridor and episodes of respiratory distress with “crowing” respiration where babies assume hyperextended position (difficulty swallowing).
What should come to mind if only the respiratory symptoms of vascular rings are present?
Trahceomalacia (flaccidity of the tracheal support cartilage which leads to tracheal collapse especially when increased airflow is demanded)
How are vascular rings diagnosed?
Barium swallow showing atypical esophageal compression
Bronchoscopy showing segmental tracheal compression (rules out diffuse tracheomalacia)
What does surgery do in vascular rings?
Divides smaller of the two aortic arches
What is an echocardiogram best used for?
Diagnosing morphologic cardiac abnormalities
What group of congenital conditions are characterized by he presence of a murmur, overloading of the pulmonary circulation, and long-term damage to the pulmonary vasculature?
Left-t-right shunts
What is an Atrial septal defect? When is it usually recognized?
Very minor, low pressure, low volume shunt. Usually recognized in late infancy
What is characteristic of an atrial septal defect?
Faint pulmonary flow systolic murmur and fixed split second heart sound
How is a atrial septal defect diagnosed?
Echocardiogram
How can a atrial septal defect be managed?
Closured can be done surgically or via cardiac catherization
What type of shunt can produce a murmur, but is otherwise asymptomatic?
A small, restrictive ventricular septal defect localized low in the muscular septum. These are likely to close spontaneously within the first 2 or 3 years of life
Where are ventricular septal defects more serious?
High in the membranous septum
What can happen with a ventricular septal defect?
Leads to trouble early on. Failure to thrive within the first few months of life, a loud pansystolic murmur heard at the left sternal border, increased pulmonary vascular makings on CXR,
How are ventricular septal defects managed?
Echocardiogram and surgical closure
Symptoms of patent ductus arteriosus; when does it present? how is it diagnosed?
Bounding peripheral pulses and “machinery-like” heart murmur. Presents on first days of life. Diagnosed by echo
What is the treatment of Patent ductus arteriosus?
For premature babies w/o heart failure: closure with indomethacin.
For those that don’t close, with heart failure or full-term babies: surgical division or embolization with coils
Which are the most common Right-to-left shunts?
- Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF)
2. Transposition of the great vessels (TGV)
What do Right-to-left shunts share?
Murmur, diminished vascular markings in the lung and cyanosis