Cardiac - Cardiac Terms

There will be no post test on this module

ASD: Atrial Septal Defect- Congenital abnormality where an opening between the atriums exists 

CHD: Congenital Heart Disease  

COA: Coarctation of the Aorta 

Dextrocardia: Dextrocardia is a rare heart condition in which your heart points toward the right side of your chest instead of the left side 

Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome : A congenital heart defect where the left side of the heart is underdeveloped, impairing its ability to pump blood effectively to the body.

Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome: A rare congenital heart defect where the right side of the heart, including the right ventricle, is underdeveloped, leading to insufficient blood flow to the lungs and body.

Left-to-Right Shunt: Blood shunting from the "left" side of the heart to the "right" side of the heart. Shunts where this may occur include the Foramen Ovale or Atrial Septal Defect, a Patent Ductus Arteriosus, and a Ventricular Septal Defect. Problems associated with this type of shunt usually include pulmonary congestion and congestive heart failure due to an increase in pulmonary blood flow. 

PDA: Patent Ductus Arteriosus 

PFO: Patent Foramen Ovale- opening between atria due to failure of the septum primum (flap between atria) from closing usually due to changes in hemodynamic pressures.  

Pre and Post Ductal Saturations: Simultaneous pulse oximeter readings with one placed on right hand (pre ductal) and the other on a foot or opposite hand (post ductal). A greater than 10% difference indicates shunting. A right-to-left shunt is suspected if the pre-ductal reading is higher than the post ductal. A left-to-right shunt is suspected if the pre-ductal reading is lower than the post ductal.  

PPHN: Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn 

Pulmonary Atresia: Congenital closure of the pulmonary valve between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery.   

Pulmonary Stenosis: Narrowing/Hardening of the opening into the pulmonary artery from the right ventricle.  

Right-to-Left Shunt: Blood shunting from the "right" side of the heart to the "left" side of the heart. Shunts where this may occur include the Foramen Ovale or Atrial Septal Defect, a Patent Ductus Arteriosus, and a Ventricular Septal Defect. Problems associated with this type of shunt usually include cyanosis and hypoxemia due to lack of pulmonary blood flow. 

TGA: Transposition of the Great Arteries also referred to as Transposition of the Great Vessels 

TOF: Tetralogy of Fallot 

VSD: Ventricular Septal Defect- Congenital abnormality where an opening between the ventricles exists.