Ebstein’s Anomaly with Pulmonary Atresia
(See Normal Heart Image for comparison)
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Ebstein’s Anomaly: The tricuspid valve (t) [controling blood flow between the right atrium and the right ventricle] is abnormally formed. This tricuspid valve is long and sits deep in the right ventricle. It’s function is limited. Ebstein’s Anomaly often presents with pulmonary atresia and septal defects.
- 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).
- 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.
- Pulmonary Valve Atresia (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.
