Other Cyanotic Heart Defects

Question 1

Define ‘cyanotic heart defect’

Answer 1

Congenital heart defects resulting in a right-to-left shunt

Question 2

Give examples of cyanotic heart defects

Answer 2

Transposition of the great arteries

Pulmonary and tricuspid atresias

Tetralogy of Fallot

Question 3

What happens in transposition of the great arteries?

Answer 3

Aorta and pulmonary trunk have their insertions swapped around

Question 4

What happens in pulmonary and tricuspid atresias?

Answer 4

Resulting in right side of heart to be dead-end

Question 5

What happens in tetralogy of Fallot?

Answer 5

Pulmonary stenosis in combination with a large ventricular defect resulting in shunt at the ventricular level

Question 6

Diagnosis of cyanotic heart defects

Answer 6

Usually diagnosed antenatally during routine scans

If undetected antenatally, presentation occurs within the first few weeks of life with babies being visibly cyanotic

Echo to characterise anatomy & function

Question 7

Management of cyanotic heart defects

Answer 7

Definitive management is surgery or transplant

While awaiting surgery patients may be given prostaglandin E to maintain patency of ductus arteriosus