Revision - Foetal Circulation Flashcards
What does the ductus venosus connect?
Umbilical vein & inferior vena cava
Allows blood to bypass the liver
What is required to keep the ductus arteriosus open?
Prostaglandins
After birth, what happens to the ductus venosus?
Immediately after birth the ductus venosus stops functioning because the umbilical cord is clamped and there is no flow in the umbilical veins.
Becomes ligamentum venosum.
What is the cardiac output in adults?
Approx 5L/min
Describe foetal circulation at the liver
1) Oxygenated blood from the placenta travels via the umbilical vein, which branches into the L and R umbilical veins at the liver.
2) The R umbilical vein provides oxygenated blood to the liver via the portal vein, whilst the L umbilical vein branches into the ductus venosus, which bypasses the liver to carry oxygenated blood directly into the IVC
3) A mix of oxygenated (from ductus venosus) and deoxygenated (from liver and the rest of the body) blood then enters the right atrium via the IVC, also mixing with the SVC.
Which vessel provides oxygenated blood to the liver in foetal circulation?
R umbilical vein
Which vessel branches into the ductus venosus in fetal circulation?
L umbilical vein
What do the umbilical arteries arise from?
1) The aorta bifurcates into the right and left common iliac arteries.
2) These split further into the internal and external iliac arteries.
3) Each of the internal iliac arteries give rise to an umbilical artery, which travel alongside the umbilical vein to bring deoxygenated blood back to the placenta.
what do the umbilical vessels become after birth?
umbilical vein –> round ligament of liver
umbilical artery –> superior vesical arteries
Does a murmur becoming louder on standing indicate an innocent murmur or not?
No - requires more investigations.
What are the 3 differentials of a pansystolic murmur?
1) Tricuspid regurgitation
2) Mitral regurgitation
3) VSD
Where would a pansystolic murmur caused by mitral regurgitation be heard loudest?
At the mitral area (fifth intercostal space, mid-clavicular line).
Where would a pansystolic murmur caused by tricuspid regurgitation be heard loudest?
At the tricuspid area (fifth intercostal space, left sternal border).
Where would a pansystolic murmur caused by a ventricular septal defect be heard loudest?
Left lower sternal border
What are the 3 differentials for an ejection systolic murmur?
1) Aortic stenosis
2) Pulmonary stenosis
3) HOCM
Where would an ejection systolic murmur caused by hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy be heard loudest?
4th intercostal space at left sternal border
What is splitting of the 2nd heart sound?
When pulmonary valve closes after aortic valve
When can splitting of the 2nd heart sound be normal?
if it varies with inspiration & expiration
What does a ‘fixed split’ second heart sound mean?
The split does NOT change with inspiration and expiration.
What heart condition can cause a fixed splitting of 2nd heart sound?
ASD
Blood is flowing from the LA into the RA across the ASD, increasing the volume of blood that the RV has to empty before the pulmonary valve can close. This doesn’t vary with respiration.
What murmur can be heard in ASD?
A mid-systolic, crescendo-decrescendo murmur, with a fixed split second heart sound.
Heard at upper left sternal border.
What type of murmur can a patent ductus arteriosus cause?
A small patent ductus arteriosus may not cause any abnormal heart sounds.
More significant PDAs cause a normal first heart sound with a continuous crescendo-decrescendo “machinery” murmur that may continue during the second heart sound, making the second heart sound difficult to hear.
Why may the murmur in a PDA be difficult to hear?
As the murmur may continue during the second heart sound, making the second heart sound difficult to hear.
What does the murmur in Tetralogy of Fallot arises from?
Pulmonary stenosis
Ejection systolic murmur heard loudest at the pulmonary area (second intercostal space, left sternal border).
What shunt is seen in cyanotic heart disease?
R -> L shunt
What are 4 heart defects that can cause a right-to-left shunt, and therefore cyanotic heart disease?
1) ASD
2) VSD
3) TGA
3) Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)
Why are patients with a VSD, ASD or PDA usually not cyanotic?
This is because the pressure in the left side of the heart is much greater than the right side, and blood will flow from the area of high pressure to the area of low pressure.
This prevents a right-to-left shunt.
When will patients with VSD, ASD or PDA be cyanotic?
If the pulmonary pressure increases beyond the systemic pressure blood will start to flow from right-to-left across the defect, causing cyanosis.
This is called Eisenmenger syndrome.
What is Eisenmenger syndrome?
Reversal of a L to R shunt due to pulmonary HTN.
What 3 defects is Eisenmenger’s syndrome associated with?
1) VSD
2) ASD
3) PDA
What are the 2 types of innocent ejection murmurs heard in children?
1) Venous hums
2) Stills murmur
What is venous hums murmur caused by?
Due to the turbulent blood flow in the great veins returning to the heart.
How is a venous hums murmur heard?
Heard as a continuous blowing noise heard just below the clavicles.
O2 saturation in RA in ASD?
Causes increased O2 saturation in RA, RV & pulmonary artery.
Why does cyanosis in PDA (that has transformed into Eisenmenger’s) only affect lower limbs?
Arterial branches to upper extremeties upstream from PDA (‘differential cyanosis’)
Mx of PDA in neonates?
Indomethacin (NSAID that inhibits prostaglandin E2)
What is a key risk factor for PDA?
Prematurity
Management of a PDA?
1) Patients are typically monitored until 1 year of age using echocardiograms.
2) After 1 year of age it is highly unlikely that the PDA will close spontaneously and trans-catheter or surgical closure can be performed.
3) Symptomatic patient or those with evidence of heart failure as a result of PDA are treated earlier.
After what age is a PDA unloikely to close spontaneously (and trans-catheter or surgical closure can be performed?)?
1 year of age
What is there a connection between in PDA?
Pulmonary artery & descending aorta
Risk factors for PDA?
1) Prematurity
2) Babies born at high altitude
3) Maternal rubella infection in 1st trimester
Potential examination findings in PDA?
1) left subclavicular thrill
2) continuous ‘machinery’ murmur
3) wide pulse pressure
4) large volume, bounding, collapsing pulse
5) heaving apex beat (RVH)
Describe the murmur in PDA
A continuous crescendo-decrescendo “machinery” murmur that may continue during the second heart sound, making the second heart sound difficult to hear.
What is the most likely congenital heart defect to be found in adulthood?
ASD
What is the most common type of ASD?
Ostium secundum defect
What size ASD should spontaneously close?
<5mm should close spontaneously within 12m of birth
What size ASD is typically managed surgically?
> 10mm (1cm)
Who is surgical closure of ASD NOT recommended in?
Not recommended in patients where pulmonary HTN is present (mean pulmonary pressure of 30mmHg), as this can induce RV failure if the ASD is closed up.
Define pulmonary HTN
Mean pulmonary pressure of 30mmHg
Complications of untreated large ASDs?
1) TIA/stroke
2) Arrhythmias e.g. AF (due to atrial stretch)
3) Pulmonary HTN & RHF
4) Eisenmenger’s syndrome
What congenital heart defect is Holt–Oram syndrome associated with?
Ostium secundum
What is Holt-Oram syndrome?
The characteristic hand malformation is digitalisation of a triphalangeal thumb so that the thumb is attached in the same plane as other fingers.
What are the three underlying lesions that can result in Eisenmenger syndrome?
1) ASD
2) VSD
3) PDA
How does cyanosis lead to an increased risk of clots?
1) bone marrow responds to low O2 by making more RBCs and Hb
2) leads to polycythaemia
3) high conc of RBCs & Hb makes blood more viscous
Examination findings in pulmonary HTN?
1) RV heave
2) Loud P2
3) Raised JVP
4) Peripheral oedema
Describe the murmur heard in the following septal defects:
1) ASD
2) VSD
3) Patent ductus arteriosus
1) mid-systolic, crescendo-decrescendo murmur loudest at the upper left sternal border
2) pan-systolic murmur loudest at the left lower sternal border
3) continuous crescendo-decrescendo “machinery” murmur
What exam findings may be seen in Eisenmenger syndrome that are related to the right to left shunt and chronic hypoxia?
1) cyanosis
2) clubbing
3) dyspnoea
4) plethoric complexion (a red complexion related to polycythaemia)
When does it become medically impossible to reverse Eisenmenger syndrome?
Once the pulmonary pressure is high enough to cause the syndrome, it is not possible to medically reverse the condition.
Only definitive treatment is heart-lung transplantation.
What medicine can be used in the management of pulmonary HTN?
Sildenafil (PDE-5 inhibitor)
Treatment of polycythaemia?
Venesection
What infection in the 1st trimester can lead to PDA in the neonate?
Maternal rubella infection
What 2 genetic conditions are VSDs associated with?
1) Turner’s syndrome
2) Down’s syndrome
Why are VSDs less common in adults?
As up to 50% of VSDs spontaneously close
O2 saturation in heart in VSD?
Increased O2 saturation in RV & pulmonary artery
What murmur is heard in VSD?
Pansystolic mumur, more prominently heard at the left lower sternal border in the third and fourth intercostal spaces.
What are the 3 causes of a pansystolic murmur?
1) VSD
2) Mitral regurgitation
3) Tricuspid regurgitation
Where is thrill felt in VSD?
A systolic thrill of maximal intensity in the lower left sternal border would be expected.
What is contraindicated in pulmonary HTN?
Pregnancy !
Mortality risk of up to 50%
How can the risk of infective endocarditis be reduced in patients with VSD?
- Good oral hygiene
- Avoid non-medical procedures, such as piercings and tattoos.