Clinical Embryology Of The Heart Flashcards
Discuss fetal circulation
Placental circulation is the source of oxygenated blood
Little pulmonary blood flow
Non-functional lungs
Observe how blood is shunted before birth:
-Umbilical vein from placenta
- Ductus venosus bypasses liver sinusoids
- Foramen ovale bypasses lungs
- Ductus arteriosus
Discuss events of neonatal circulation
Closure of Foramen ovale
-fossa ovalis and limbus of fossa ovalis
Closure of Ductus arteriosus
-Ligamentum arteriosum
Closure of Ductus venosus
-Ligamentum venosum
Contraction and fibrosis of the umbilical vein
-Ligamentum teres hepatis
What is ectopia cordis?
Heart is in an abnormal location
Thoracic ectopia cordis —>
-heart is partly or completely exposed on the thoracic wall
- Results from faulty development of the sternum and pericardium because of failure of complete fusion of the lateral folds in the formation of the thoracic wall during the fourth week
- Widely separated halves of the sternum (nonfusion) and an open pericardial sac
Abdominal ectopia cordis—> the heart protrudes through the diaphragm into the abdomen
Death occurs in most cases during the first few days after birth, usually from infection, cardiac failure, or hypoxemia
What is frequency/etiology of congenital heart defects(CHD)?
Common- about 6 to 8 per 1000 births
Most (about 80% ) etiology is unknown
What often results from congenital heart diseases?
Infections e.g. rubellain early pregnancy is associated with increased risk for patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)
What are the genetic factors of congenital heart defects?
Chromosomal abnormalities
-Turner syndrome associated with contraction of aorta
- Down syndrome associated with Endocardial cushion defects resulting in ASD/VSD, as well as patent ductus arteriosus
- Variable deletions from a small region of chromosome 22 results in cardiac and extra-cardiac abnormalities= DiGeorge’s syndrome or conotruncal anomaly face syndrome or “CATCH 22” syndrome
What are the environmental factors of congenital heart diseases?
Environmental factors (maternal alcohol abuse, and maternal diabetes interfere, among other things, with normal neural crest migration)
How are congenital heart defects found?
Well-tolerated in fetal life, but become more appearent once the baby loses the connection o the maternal circulation
-Can be asymptomatic and discovered during routine imaging studies, cardiac catheterization or cadaveric dissection or can cause severe morbidity or be incompatible with life
What are the common findings of congenital heart defects?
- murmurs and/or abnormal heart sounds
- failure to thrive
- Dyspnea on exertion
- recurrent pulmonary infections
- cardiac failure
- pulmonary hypertension
- infective endocarditis
Often leads to cardiac shunts
What is a cardiac shunt?
A cardiac shunt is an abnormal communication between the right and left sides of the heart or between the systemic and pulmonary vessels, allowing blood to flow directly from one circulatory system to the other.
Can be right to left shunting of blood
When is atrioventricular septal defect(AVSD) most common?
Most frequent defect in trisomy 21(Down syndrome)
What is atrioventricular septal defect?
- Severe Endocardial cushion defect where there is a large defect in the atrioventricular wall
- Primum type ASD & membranous type VSD
- Always affects AV valve with a common AV valve in the most severe form.
- In the incomplete form there may be an ASD or VSD associated with a defective AV valve (usually the anterior cusp of the mitral valve)
Additionally you may see:
- isolated ASD or VSD
- tetralogy or fallout
- patent ductus arteriosus
What are right to left shunts?
Right to left shunts allows deoxygenated systemic veinous blood to bypass the lungs and return to the body. Venous blood from the right heart (pulmonary circuit)mixes with arterial blood in the left side of the heart.
-This decrease in oxygenated blood in the systemic circulation results in cyanosis. This usually occurs at birth and in infancy (blue babies)
What is cyanosis?
-Bluish discoloration in skin and mucous membranes, due to excessive concentration of deoxyhemoglobin in the blood caused by deoxygenation.
Two main types: central (around the core, lips, and tongue) and peripheral (only the extremities or fingers)
Usually require surgical treatment or maintenance of the ductus arteriosus (PDA)
What are the diseases that involve a right to left shunt?
- Truncus arteriosus
- Transposition of the great vessels
- Tricuspid atresia
- Total anomalous pulmonary venous return
What are the components of tetralogy of fallot?
Right to left shunts
1. Pulmonary stenosis
- Right ventricular hypertrophy
- VSD (membranous)
- Overriding aorta