Fung: Congenital Heart Disease Flashcards
General term used to describe abnormalities of the heart and great vessels that are present from birth
congenital heart disease
During what weeks of embryogenesis are congenital heart defects likely to occur?
during weeks 3 through 8 of gestation
(blank)% of births have a congential cardiovascular defect and are the most common form of cardiovascular disease among children
1
Explain fetal blood circulation
O2 rich blood from the placenta –> umbilical vein –> ductus venosus (bypasses liver) –> IVC –> right atrium –> foramen ovale (bypass right ventricle) –> left atrium –> left ventricle –> aorta –> umbilical arteries –> placenta
**ductus arteriosus from pulmonary trunk to aorta, shunts blood that did enter the right ventricle and out the pulmonary trunk
What are the two main causes of congenital heart disease?
sporadic genetic abnormalities - single gene mutations, small chromosome deletions, trisomies, monosomies
or
environmental factors - congenital rubella, gestational diabetes, teratogens
abnormal communication between chambers or blood vessels
shunt
a complete obstruction in blood flow
atresia
3 primary categories of congenital heart defects
left to right shunt
right to left shunt
obstruction
What happens to the blood flow in a right to left shunt?
poorly oxygenated blood returning from the veins mixes with systemic arterial blood; these patients will become hypoxic and cyanotic
What are some clinical features of right to left shunts?
clubbing of fingers and toes
polycythemia (increased RBCs)
What causes tetralogy of fallot? What are the four cardinal features of tetralogy of fallot?
tetralogy of fallot occurs when the infundibular septum is displaced anterosuperiorly
1) ventricular septal defect
2) overriding aorta (forms the superior border of the VSD and overrides the defect of both ventricles)
3) obstruction of right ventricular outflow tract (pulmonary stenosis)
4. right ventricular hypertrophy
Do patients with tetralogy of Fallot survive? How do these patients present at birth?
yes, patients can survive into adulthood and can undergo complete surgical repair; most patients are cyanotic at birth
What to the clinical consequences of tetralogy of Fallot depend upon?
the degree of the pulmonic stenosis
if mild: resembles an isolated ventricular septal defect and is more like an isolated left to right shunt without cyanosis
if severe: greater resistance RV outflow and a right to left shunt, pulmonary arteries become hypoplastic and aorta dilates
What is transposition of the great vessels?
when the aorta arises from the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery arises from the left ventricle
**normally the aorta is posterior to the pulmonary artery, but it is reversed here
How does transposition of the great vessels occur?
develops due to abnormal formation of the truncal and aortopulmonary septa
The outcome of transposition of the great vessels is dependent on what three things?
- degree of mixing of blood (if the patient has a ventricular septal defect, they can compensate…if they have an unstable shunt, like a patent foramen ovale, they need surgery)
- magnitude of tissue hypoxia
- ability of the right ventricle to supply to systemic circulation
If a patient has transposition of the great vessels and has an unstable shunt, what must they undergo?
they must undergo balloon atrial septostomy to open up and allow for mixing of bloos
Clinical features of transposition of the great vessels? Can these patients live to adulthood?
right ventricular hypertrophy; atrophy of left ventricle
**right ventricle must supply the systemic circulation
with surgery, can survive into adulthood; otherwise, die w/i first months of life
What is persistent truncus arteriosus?
this arises due to the failure of separation of the embryological truncus arteriosus into the aorta and pulmonary artery; results in a single great vessel that receives blood from both ventricles and the coronary circulation
Regarding persistent truncus arteriosus, There is an associated VSD that produces systemic cyanosis and increased pulmonary blood flow. Why is this a concern?
danger of irreversible pulmonary HTN
What is tricuspid atresia?
complete obstruction of the tricuspid valve orifice
How does tricuspid atresia occur?
when there is unequal division of the atrio-ventricular canal, you get a large mitral valve and an underdeveloped right ventricle
How do patients with tricuspid atresia present at birth? Do they survive into adulthood?
cyanotic at birth; very high mortality rate