An acyanotic heart defect, is a class of congenital heart defects. In these, blood is shunted (flows) from the left side of the heart to the right side of the heart, most often due to a structural defect (hole) in the interventricular septum. People often retain normal levels of oxyhemoglobin saturation in systemic circulation.
This term is outdated, because a person with an acyanotic heart defect may show cyanosis (turn blue due to insufficient oxygen in the blood).
Signs and symptoms Presentation is the following: Shortness of breath 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)
Complications This condition can cause congestive heart failure. Diagnosis
Types Left to right shunting heart defects include: Ventricular septal defect (VSD) (30% of all congenital heart defects) Atrial septal defect (ASD) Atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD) Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)
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
Management Treatment of this condition can be done via: Medications: Digoxin/Lanoxin Diuretics: Furosemide/Lasix Surgery
See also Cyanotic heart defect
References
NCLEX-PN Review 2nd Ed. (2006). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. .