Congenital heart defects Flashcards
What are the groups of causes of CHDs?
Genetic
Environmental
Maternal infections
What are three genetic conditions that give CHDs? Which CHDs do they each give?
Down’s syndrome - atrioventriclar septal defect
Turner’s syndrome - coarctation of aorta
DiGeorge syndrome - tetralogy of fallot
What are the environmental causes of CHDs?
Teratogens e.g. drugs, alcohol
What are two examples of maternal infections that cause CHDs?
Rubella
Toxoplasmosis
What are the categories of CHDs?
Acyanotic
Cyanotic
What are the defects involved in acyanotic CHDs?
Stenosis, obstruction
Or opening
What is the direction of blood flow across openings in acyanotic CHDs?
Left-to-right shunts
How are left-to-right shunts acyanotic?
Oxygenated blood from lungs is travelling back to the lungs
no deoxygenated blood travelling to body
Why does blood move from the left side of the heart to the right side of the heart in left-to-right shunts?
Left side of heart is at higher pressure than right side
What are seven examples of acyanotic CHDs?
Atrial septal defect
Ventricular septal defect
Patent ductus arteriosus
Aortic stenosis
Coarctation of aorta
Mitral stenosis
Pulmonary stenosis
What is an atrial septal defect (ASD)?
Persistent opening in interatrial septum after birth
What is the most common site of an ASD?
Foreamen ovale
What are ASDs caused by?
Septum primum being resorbed too much
or
Septumum secundum being too short
What does the amount of blood moving through an ASD depend on?
Size of opening
What does the RV experience with ASDs? Why?
Volume overload
due to extra blood entering RA from LA, then RV
How does the RV respond to volume overload?
Dilates
What can dilation of the RV lead to?
Right-sided heart failure
What happens to blood flow in the pulmonary circulation with an ASD?
Increased blood flow through pulmonary circulation
What can increased pulmonary blood flow in an ASD lead to?
Pulmonary hypertension
What are VSDs?
Abnormal opening in ventricular septum
Where are VSDs most common?
Membranous portion of ventricular septum
How does the LV respond to volume overload?
Dilates
What does dilation of the LV lead to?
Left sided heart failure
What does the LV experience with VSDs? Why?
Volume overload
increased blood flow in RV, pulmonary circulation, LA, then LV
What may increased blood flow through the pulmonary circulation with a VSD lead to?
Pulmonary hypertension
What is a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)?
Ductus arteriosus fails to close after birth
persistent communication between pulmonary artery and descending aorta
What does the pulmonary circulation experience with PDA?
Volume overload
What may volume overload in the pulmonary circulaton with PDA lead to?
Pulmonary hypertension
What is the cause of congenital aortic valve stenosis?
Bicuspid form of valve instead of tricuspid
narrower opening
How does congenital aortic stenosis affect blood flow?
Increases resistance to blood flow out of the LV