Acyanotic heart defect

The condition of acyanotic heart defect occurs when shunting (flowing) of blood occurs from the left side of the heart to the right side of the heart due to a structural defect (hole) in the interventricular septum. Patients retain normal levels of oxyhemoglobin saturation in systemic circulation.

Signs and symptoms

• Shortness of breath -(Maternal Child Nursing Care 2014)
• Congested cough
• Diaphoresis
• Fatigue
• Frequent respiratory infections
• Machine-like heart murmur
• Tachycardia
• Tachypnea
• Respiratory distress
• Mild cyanosis (in right sided heart failure)
• Poor growth and development (from increased energy spent on breathing)

Interventions

• Medications: Digoxin/Lanoxin
• Diuretics: Furosemide/Lasix
• Surgery

Classifications/Categories

Left to right shunting heart defects include:

• Ventricular septal defect (VSD) (30% of all congenital heart defects)
• Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)
• Atrial septal defect (ASD)
• Atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD)

Others:

• levo-Transposition of the great arteries (l-TGA)

Acyanotic heart defects without shunting include::

• Pulmonary stenosis (a narrowing of the pulmonary valve)
• Aortic stenosis
• Coarctation of the aorta

See also

• Cyanotic heart defect

References

^NCLEX-PN Review 2nd Ed. (2006). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 1-58255-915-5.