Congenital heart disease Flashcards
1
Q
When at least ___ g/dl of desaturated hemoglobin is present in arterial blood, the lips, nailbeds, and mucous membranes appear blue, or cyanotic.
A
5
2
Q
The tetrad of anatomic findings described by Fallot for this congenital heart lesion are
A
- Pulmonary stenosis
- Overriding aorta
- Ventricular septal defect
- Right ventricular hypertrophy
3
Q
What are tet spells?
A
The pulmonary stenosis has a dynamic component: the subvalvular right ventricular outflow tract is muscular and contracts in response to inotropic stimuli (catecholamines). When such contraction occurs—or if SVR decreases significantly—less blood can flow into the pulmonary artery; thus more desaturated blood is shunted right to left across the ventricular septal defect into the left ventricle. An acute hypercyanotic episode, or
tet spell, is the result
