Single Ventricle Flashcards
What is Single Ventricle?
Single Ventricle is a CHD in which the patient only has one common ventricle
Is Single Ventricle a critical CHD?
Yes
What type of CHD is Single Ventricle? What is that category?
Single Ventricle is a type of single ventricle heart defect. Single ventricle heart defects are CHDs in which the patient only has one ventricle that is large enough to work effectively, while the other is abnormal or non-existent.)
How is the commonality of Single Ventricle described as?
Single Ventricle is very rare
When can most single ventricle heart defects be detected?
Most single ventricle heart defects can be detected at the 20-week anatomy scan before birth or by an echocardiogram after birth
What is an echocardiogram?
A detailed ultrasound of the heart
If Single Ventricle is not detected during the antenatal period, …
If Single Ventricle is not detected during the antenatal period, the infant may start to show symptoms of Single Ventricle.
What is the antenatal period? What is a synonym to it?
The antenatal period is the period of time during pregnancy before birth. A synonym of antenatal is prenatal.
What are some symptoms of Single Ventricle?
-Cyanosis
-Difficulty breathing
-Difficulty feeding/eating
-Lethargy
What is cyanosis?
Cyanosis is the condition of having bluish lips, skin, and nails because of low blood oxygen levels.
What is lethargy?
Lethargy is the condition of being sleepy or unresponsive.
Single ventricle heart defects cannot be _____. However, the _____ can be _____ by _____
Single ventricle heart defects cannot be corrected. However, the symptoms can be improved by surgery.
_____ _____ of surgery are usually required to _____ and _____ blood flow to the _____ and the _____. These surgeries are _____ _____ surgeries performed under _____ _____. The timing of these surgeries will depend on the _____ of the defect and the _____ _____ of the infant.
Several stages of surgery are usually required to balance and optimize blood flow to the lungs and the body. These surgeries are open heart surgeries performed under general anaesthetic. The timing of these surgeries will depend on the severity of the defect and the general condition of the infant.
Once an infant has been diagnosed with a single ventricle heart defect, what will the cardiologist assess? What needs to be done according to these findings?
Once an infant has been diagnosed with a single ventricle heart defect, the cardiologist will assess whether there is too much blood going to the lungs or not enough blood going to the lungs. If there is too much blood going to the lungs, pulmonary banding will be needed to restrict this excessive blood flow. If there is not enough blood going to the lungs, a shunt or a stent will be needed to increase the blood flow to the lungs.
What is pulmonary banding?
Pulmonary banding is the procedure of restricting/narrowing a section of the MPA.
Some infants with univentricular hearts are able to _____ their blood flow _____.
Some infants with univentricular hearts are able to balance their blood flow themselves.
What are some other surgeries for single ventricle heart defects? What exactly are they?
-Norwood procedure (Usually done in the first few weeks after birth. Surgeon will build a new, larger aorta and use a small tube to direct blood to the lungs.)
-Glenn procedure (Usually done at around 6 months of age. Surgeon disconnects SVC from the RA and connects it the the PA.)
-Fontan procedure (Usually done at around 2 years of age. Connects IVC to the PA. No more cyanosis if done correctly.)
Patients with a single ventricle heart defect will need _____ _____ and will be _____ _____ for the _____ _____ _____ _____.
Patients with a single ventricle heart defect will need lifelong followups and will be prescribed medicines for the rest of their lives.
What needs to be repeated for patients with single ventricle heart defects?
Tests and exams, such as an echocardiogram, ECG, and MRI, will need to be repeated for patients with single ventricle heart defects.
What is a univentricular heart?
A heart with only one ventricle.
What is cyanosis?
Cyanosis is the condition of having bluish lips, skin, and nails because of low blood oxygen levels.
What is an echocardiogram?
An echocardiogram (echo) is a detailed ultrasound of the heart.
What is an ECG?
ElectroCardioGram. It is a measurement of the electrical activity in the heart.
What is an MRI?
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Why are the lifelong checkups/followups there?
The lifelong checkups/followups are there to monitor the child’s heart function, so that any future cardiac problems are diagnosed and treated ASAP.
The patient (with a single ventricle heart defect) may have to follow some…
The patient (with a single ventricle heart defect) may have to follow some restrictions of activity.
Patients with single ventricle heart defects are encouraged to be…
Patients with single ventricle heart defects are encouraged to be as active as they can be.
There will be a _____ down the middle of their _____ if the patient (with a single ventricle heart defect) has had an _____ _____ _____. There will also be _____ _____ where the _____ _____ were used, but those ones should _____ over time.
There will be a scar down the middle of their chest if the patient (with a single ventricle heart defect) has had an open heart surgery. There will also be small scars where the drain tube were used, but those ones should fade over time.
What is a drain tube?
A drain tube is an implant that allows the removal of fluid and/or gas from a wound or body cavity.
