Atrial septal defect (ASD), a cardiac congenital malformation, is an abnormal communication between the two atria (the two small chambers at the top of the heart).
Ventricular septal defect (VSD) is a congenital cardiac malformation representing an abnormal communication between the two ventricles (the two larger chambers at the bottom of the heart).
Left chamber (left atrium and left ventricle) pressure is higher than right chamber (right atrium and right ventricle) pressure. Thus, an atrial septal defect permits an abnormal flow of blood from the left chambers of the heart to the right chambers of the heart (left-to-right shunt).
The volume of blood passing from the left side of the heart to the right side of the heart depends on the size of the septal defect and the pressure difference between the chambers. This leads to the increase in the volume of the right side of the heart and in the lungs, and to left ventricle overload. The flow increase in the right ventricle and in the lungs make the right ventricle work harder and consequently dilate. Subsequently, the right ventricle can no longer effectively pump the blood to the lungs, leading to pooling of the blood in the abdomen and the lower extremities (the so-called right heart failure).
The increased blood flow in the lungs leads to the occurence of structural changes leading to pulmonary hypertension and, in the end, the right chambers pressure becomes higher than the left chambers pressure, and shunt reversal occurs (reversal of the left-to-right shunt to a right-to-left shunt).
These defects are innate, and the patient may be symptom free for a long period of time (depending, as mentioned above, on the size of the shunt, the pressure difference between the left cavities). Over time, symptoms appear – such as failure to thrive in infants, exertional dyspnea, recurrent pulmonary infections, palpitations, fatigue, cyanosis of the skin (bluish coloration indicating deoxygenation of the arterial blood), leg edema.
Mitral regurgitation (MR) is a condition in which the heart’s mitral valve leaflets do not close tightly. When this happens, blood flows backward from the heart’s left ventricle into the left atrium. The heart must then work harder to push blood through the body, which can cause fatigue, shortness of breath and worsening heart failure. It is the most common type of heart valve insufficiency.
A coronary angioplasty is a procedure used to widen blocked or narrowed coronary arteries.
A coronary angioplasty is a procedure used to widen blocked or narrowed coronary arteries.
Phacoemulsification systems market is quickly gaining popularity and is probably going to be a generally utilized strategy for cataract surgery in many parts of the world sooner rather than later.
More about Cardiology
Phacoemulsification systems market is quickly gaining popularity and is probably going to be a generally utilized strategy for cataract surgery in many parts of the world sooner rather than later.
It is perfectly normal for a woman to want to improve her body, especially after a pregnancy and birth or a surgery. The way we feel about our body and appearance is of major importance, key to the boost of self-confidence and good mood. There are solutions with which you can correct any kind of imperfection questioning the femininity of a woman, and achieve the desired appearance.
Refractive prediction error changes with a patient's age, according to results from a prospective, cohort study. The researchers suggest patient age should be taken into account when determining intraocular lens (IOL) power for cataract surgery.
Scientists have discovered a molecular “switch” that makes cells in breast cancer tumors become aggressive.
More people want to change the shape of their nose today than any time in the past 10 years. The build-up of the demand encourages new developments in technology which has never been as remarkable as today.
