DORV, pulmonary atresia, non-centered aorta

(See Normal Heart Image for comparison)

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• non-centered Aorta [aorta=main vessel carrying oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the body] the aortic arch is located more towards the patient’s left side than in a normal heart.
• Pulmonary Atresia [pulmonary=having to do with the lungs, atresia=without openings] a complete blockage of the pulmonary artery (which carries blood from the heart to the lungs) caused by a missing or fused-shut pulmonary valve.
• Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) [septum=wall between the chambers of the heart, atriums=top chambers of the heart] – holes in the inner walls of the heart allowing extra blood flow between the two upper chambers of the heart (atriums).
• (DORV) Double Outlet Right Ventricle [outlet=passage for exit, ventricles=lower chambers of the heart] – both vessels (aorta & pulmonary artery) carrying blood away from the heart come out of the right ventricle. (Normally the aorta carries oxygen-rich blood from the left ventricle and the pulmonary artery carries oxygen-poor blood from the right ventricle).
• Ventricular Hypertrophy [ventricles=lower chambers of the heart, hyper=excessive, trophy=condition of growth] thickening of the ventricular walls because the heart is working too hard.
• leaky Mitral Valve (MV) the valve that controls blood flow between the left atrium and the left ventricle in the heart is leaking.
• Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) [patent=open, ductus=duct, arteriosus=artery] – an extra passageway between the pulmonary artery (carrying oxygen-poor blood from the heart to the lungs) and the aorta (carrying oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the body).  The ductus arteriosus is open in a fetus.  This allows extra bloodflow in the forming baby while it’s getting oxygen from Mom instead of its own lungs.  The PDA normally closes around 10 days after birth.
• (VSD) Ventricular Septal Defect [septum=wall between the chambers of the heart, ventricles=lower chambers of the heart] – holes in the inner walls of the heart allowing extra blood flow between the two lower chambers of the heart (ventricles). This causes the oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor blood to mix before leaving the heart.