Pulmonary Atresia Flashcards
What is pulmonary atresia?
Pulmonary atresia is a CHD in which the pulmonary valve doesn’t form at all
What happens as a result of pulmonary atresia? What must happen for the body to bypass this issue?
Pulmonary atresia allows no blood to go from the RV to the lungs. Therefore, blood must use other routes to bypass the unformed pulmonary valve.
_____ and _____ remains open for infants with pulmonary atresia even after birth.
PDA and PFO remains open for infants with pulmonary atresia even after birth.
What is PDA?
Patent ductus arteriosus: An extra blood vessel that connects the top of the MPA and the bottom of the arcus aortae.
What is PFO?
Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) is a natural opening between the atria that usually closes after birth.
When do infants with pulmonary atresia show signs and symptoms?
Infants with pulmonary atresia show signs and symptoms at birth or very soon after.
What are some signs and symptoms of pulmonary atresia?
Some signs and symptoms of pulmonary atresia include:
-Cyanosis
-Breathing problems
-Extreme sleepiness
What is cyanosis?
Cyanosis is the condition of having bluish lips, skin, and nails because of low blood oxygen levels.
Is pulmonary atresia a critical CHD?
Yes
When may pulmonary atresia be diagnosed?
Pulmonary atresia may be diagnosed during pregnancy or soon after the infant is born
What tool is primarily used to diagnose pulmonary atresia during pregnancy? (1)
Ultrasound
What tool is usually requested after pulmonary atresia is suspected during pregnancy? (1) For what purpose is this? (1)
Fetal echocardiogram. To confirm the diagnosis.
How can pulmonary atresia be diagnosed after birth? (3)
- Look for symptoms
- Search for a heart murmur using a stethoscope
- Newborn pulse oximetry screening
What further tests may be requested after pulmonary atresia is suspected after birth? (3) For what purpose are these? (2)
- Echocardiogram to confirm the diagnosis
2.Cardiac catherization to look inside the heart and measure BP and O2 levels - ECG/EKG to confirm the diagnosis
What is a heart murmur?
A heart murmur is a whooshing sound that can be heard in the heart with a stethoscope due to irregular blood flow through the heart.
What is an echocardiogram?
An ultrasound of the heart
How can pulmonary atresia be diagnosed using newborn pulse oximetry screening?
Newborn pulse oximetry screening showing low blood oxygen levels can be a sign of a critical CHD such as pulmonary atresia
What is good about diagnosing with newborn pulse oximetry screening?
Newborn pulse oximetry screening can detect pulmonary atresia before the infant starts showing any symptoms.
What are some treatment options for pulmonary atresia? (2)
-Medicine
-Surgery
What do the treatments depend on?
Treatments depend on the severity of the defect.
What do the medicines do to help treat pulmonary atresia? What is its significance?
Medicines keep the PDA open until the PV can be fixed so that some blood will continue normal blood-flow.
What is a PDA?
Patent ductus arteriosus: An extra blood vessel that connects the top of the MPA and the bottom of the arcus aortae.
What can cardiac catherization do to help treat pulmonary atresia? (2) How? What has to be done in some cases?(1)
Cardiac catherization can improve blood-flow and expand the PV and MPA by using a balloon. In some cases, a stent (a tube or a mesh) may be left there to keep the PV and MPA open.
What can surgeries do to help treat pulmonary atresia? (2)
Surgeries can widen or replace the PV. And if the patient has VSD, the doctor will use a patch to close the VSD.
What type of surgeries may be needed for patients with pulmonary atresia? What are these surgeries similar to?
Staged surgical procedures may be needed for patients with pulmonary atresia. These staged surgical procedures are similar to the surgical repairs for HLHS.
What may infants (with pulmonary atresia) need soon after brith?
Surgery (or surgeries)
What is newborn pulse oximetry screening?
“Newborn pulse oximetry screening is a painless test that measures the amount of oxygen in a baby’s blood.”
What is cardiac catherization?
Cardiac catherization is an operation in which a thin, flexible tube/wire (catheter) is inserted into the heart to measure BP and inject dye for special pictures of the heart and arteries.
What will patients with pulmonary atresia need for the rest of their lives? (1) What are these for? (2)
Patients with pulmonary atresia will need routine checkups with a cardiologist for the rest of their lives. The cardiologist will monitor the infant’s progress and check for other medical conditions.
What may be needed for adults with pulmonary atresia? (2) Why? (1)
For adults with pulmonary atresia, they may need additional surgeries or medical care in order to account for other possible medical problems.
