Congenital Heart Disease Flashcards
Describe morphology of the RA?
Contains the SA node
Broad appendage
Describe morphology of the LA?
Narrow, long appendage
Describe morphology of the RV?
Trabeculated endocardium
Insertion of the chordae to the IV septum
Thick moderator band muscle.
Describe morphology of the LV?
Smooth endocardium, ellipsoid cavity.
What is the most common atrial septal defect?
Secundum
How does a secundum ASD occur?
When foramen ovale fails to close leaving a hole between atria.
What happens to blood in a secundum ASD?
Blood can mix and normally shunts left to right.
How could you identify a secundum ASD on examination?
Pulmonary flow murmur
Fixed split second heart sound.
What other heart problems can a secundum ASD lead to?
- RV failure as RV receives blood from both atria and becomes dilated.
- Atrial arrhythmias such as AF.
- Tricuspid regurgitation.
What other non-heart problems can a secundum ASD cause?
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Eisenmenger Syndrome
- Stroke
How are secundum ASD’s treated?
Surgery via sternotomy or transcatheter approach from groin.
What is transposition of the great arteries?
Where they aorta and pulmonary artery switch.
Aorta is connected to the RV
Pulmonary artery now connected to the LV.
2 separate circulation systems exist.
Is transposition of the great arteries a cyanotic condition?
Yes - incompatible with life.
What is the M:F ratio for transposition of the great arteries?
4:1
What immediate treatment is given to babies with transposition of the great arteries? Why?
When born, the foramen ovale and ductus arteriosus close over the first hours of life. When this occurs in this condition, 2 seperate circulation systems are created and there is a seperate systemic and pulmonary circulation therefore the blood travelling round the body is deoxygenated.
We give prostaglandins to maintain these structures to allow mixing of blood so oxygenated blood can also get into the systemic circulation. This buys times.