Left to Right
Shunts
Left to Right
Shunts
© William Herring, MD, FACR
7 yo acyanotic female
What’s the diagnosis?
Atrial Septal Defect
Atrial Septal Defect
Four Major Types
Ostium secundum
Ostium primum
Sinus venosus
Posteroinferior
Atrial Septal Defect
General
4:1 ratio of females to males
Most frequent congenital heart lesion
initially diagnosed in adult
Frequently associated with Ellis-van
Creveld and Holt-Oram syndromes
Associated with prolapsing mitral valve
Holt-Oram Syndrome –
Absence or hypoplasia of the radial ray
Atrial Septal Defect
Ostium Secundum Type
Most common is ostium secundum
(60%) located at fossa ovalis
High association with prolapse of
mitral valve
Right atrium open looking into left
atrium through ASD
Normal
© Frank Netter, MD Novartis®
Atrial Septal Defect
Ostium Primum Type
Ostium primum type usually part of
endocardial cushion defect
Frequently associated with cleft
mitral and tricuspid valves
Tends to act like VSD physiologically
Looking through
ostium primum defect
at cleft mitral valve
Proximity of ostium
primum defect to
tricuspid valve
© Frank Netter, MD Novartis®
Atrial Septal Defect
Sinus Venosus Type
Sinus venosus type located high in
inter-atrial septum
90% association of anomalous drainage
of R upper pulmonary vein with SVC
or right atrium
Partial anomalous pulmonary venous return
Right atrium open looking into left atrium through ASD
© Frank Netter, MD Novartis®
Atrial Septal Defect
Posteroinferior Type
Most rare type
Associated with absence of coronary
sinus and left SVC emptying into LA
Atrial Septal Defect
Pulmonary Hypertension
Rare in ostium secundum variety (<6%)
Low pressure shunt from LA
RA
More common in ostium primum variety
Behaves physiologically like VSD
37 yo female with severe PAH 2°
ostium primum type of ASD
Atrial Septal Defect
X-Ray Findings
Enlarged pulmonary vessels
Normal-sized left atrium
Normal to small aorta
ASD
Prominent
pulmonary
vessels
Prominent
MPA
Normal left
atrium
Atrial Septal Defect
Complications
Large shunts associated with
Pulmonary infections and cardiac arrythmias
Higher incidence of pericardial disease
with ASD than any other CHD
Bacterial endocarditis is rare
LA
Ao
ASD
PDA
VSD
Differentiating ASD, PDA and VSD
Atrial Septal Defect
Why the Left Atrium Isn’t Enlarged
LA
RA
RV
LV
Ostium Secundum
ASD
Amersham
Auckland MRI
•
Discontinuity in the atrial septum with systolic signal void consistent with L->R shunt
on atrial level
•
Right atrium is mildly dilated; RV, LV and LA size are normal
SCMR
Auckland MRI
1 yo acyanotic female
What’s the diagnosis?
Ventricular
Septal
Defect
Ventricular
Septal
Defect
Ventricular Septal Defect
General
Most common L
R shunt
Shunt is actually from left ventricle into
pulmonary artery more than into right
ventricle
Ventricular Septal Defect
Types
Membranous
Supracristal
Muscular
AV canal
Ventricular Septal Defect
Membranous
Membranous = perimembranous VSD
(75-80%–most common)
Location: Posterior and inferior to
crista supraventricularis near right
and posterior (=non-coronary) aortic
valve cusps
Associated with: small aneurysms of
membranous septum
Right ventricle opened
Crista
supraventricularis
Membranous VSD
Normal
© Frank Netter, MD Novartis®
Aneurysm of
membranous
septum
Normal
© Frank Netter, MD Novartis®
Ventricular Septal Defect
Supracristal
Supracristal = conal VSD (5%–least
common)
Crista supraventricularis= inverted U-
shaped muscular ridge posterior and
inferior to the pulmonic valve high in
interventricular septum
Right aortic valve cusp may herniate
aortic insufficiency
Ventricular Septal Defect
Muscular
Muscular VSD (5–10%)
Low and anterior within trabeculations
of muscular septum
May consist of multiple VSDs = “Swiss-
cheese septum”
Swiss
cheese
© Frank Netter, MD Novartis®
Ventricular Septal Defect
AV Canal
Atrioventricular canal = endocardial
cushion type = posterior VSD (5–10%)
Location: adjacent to septal and
anterior leaflet of mitral valve
Large VSD
pulmonary hypertension,
eventually shunt reversal
Eisenmenger’s physiology
Very large VSD
CHF soon after birth
Large posterior VSD
(AV canal)
© Frank Netter, MD Novartis®
Ventricular Septal Defect
Natural History
Natural history of VSD is affected by
two factors:
Location of defect
Muscular and perimembranous have high
incidence of spontaneous closure
Endocardial cushion defects have low rate of
closure
Ventricular Septal Defect
Natural History
Size of the defect
Larger the defect, more likely to
CHF
Smaller the defect, more likely to be
asymptomatic
Ventricular Septal Defect
Eisenmenger Physiology
Progressive increase in pulmonary
vascular resistance
Intimal and medial hyperplasia
Reversal of L
R shunt to R
L shunt
Cyanosis
Serial chest x-rays may show
decrease in size of pulmonary vessels
Ventricular Septal Defect
Clinical Course
Neonates usually asymptomatic
because of high pulmonary vascular
resistance from birth to 6 weeks
Common cause of CHF in infancy
Bacterial endocarditis may develop
Severe pulmonary hypertension
Eisenmenger’s physiology/cyanosis
Ventricular Septal Defect
X-ray Findings
Prominent main pulmonary artery
Adult
Shunt vasculature (increased flow to
the lungs)
LA enlargement (80%)
Aorta normal in size
LA
RA
RV
LV
Ventricular Septal Defect
Why Left Atrium Is Enlarged
VSD
Ventricular Septal Defect
Prognosis
Spontaneous closure occurs in
40% during first 2 years of life
60% by 5 years
Ventricular Septal Defect
Indications For Surgery
Greater than 2:1 shunt, surgery required
before pulmonary arterial hypertension
develops
CHF unresponsive to medical management
Failure to grow
Supracristal defects because of their
high incidence of AI
Amersham
Membranous VSD
Auckland MRI
8 mos old acyanotic female
What’s the diagnosis?
Patent
Ductus
Arteriosus
Patent
Ductus
Arteriosus
Patent Ductus Arteriosus
General
Higher incidence in
Trisomy 21
Trisomy 18
Rubella
Preemies
Predominance in females 4:1
Patent Ductus Arteriosus
Anatomy
Ductus connects pulmonary artery to
descending aorta just distal to left
subclavian artery
Ductus Arteriosus
© Frank Netter, MD Novartis®
Ductus Arteriosus
Physiology
In fetal life, shunts blood from
pulmonary artery to aorta
At birth, increase in arterial oxygen
concentration
constriction of
ductus
Ductus Arteriosus
Normal Closure
Functional closure
By 24 hrs of life
Normal anatomic closure
Complete by 2 months in 90%
Closure at 1 year in 99%
Patent Ductus Arteriosus
Pathophysiology
Ductus may persist
Because of defect in muscular wall of ductus, or
Chemical defect in response to oxygen
Anatomic persistence of ductus
beyond 4 months is abnormal
Blood is shunted from aorta to
pulmonary arteries
Patent Ductus Arteriosus
Clinical
Common cause of CHF in premature
infants
Usually at age 1 week (after HMD subsides and
pulmonary arterial pressure falls)
Wide pulse pressure
Continuous murmur
Patent Ductus Arteriosus
X-ray Findings
Cardiomegaly
Enlarged left atrium
Prominent main pulmonary artery (adult)
Prominent peripheral pulmonary vessels
Prominence of ascending aorta
PDA
Patent Ductus Arteriosus
Why Left Atrium Is Enlarged
LA
RA
RV
LV
Patent Ductus Arteriosus
Calcifications
Punctate calcification at site of closed
ductus is normal finding
Linear or railroad track calcification at
site of ductus may be seen in adults
with PDA
Patent Ductus Arteriosus
Prognosis
Spontaneous closure may occur
Patent Ductus Arteriosus
Complications
CHF
Failure to grow
Pulmonary infections
Bacterial endocarditis
Eisenmenger’s physiology with advanced
lesions
•
Jet of signal loss showing continuous flow from the aorta to the MPA
consistent with sizeable PDA
•
MPA is severely dilated at level of PDA
SCMR
Auckland MRI
Auckland MRI
2 yo old cyanotic female
What’s the diagnosis?
Partial
or
Total
Anomalous
Pulmonary
Venous
Return
Partial
or
Total
Anomalous
Pulmonary
Venous
Return
Cyanosis With Increased
Vascularity
Truncus types I, II, III
TAPVR
Tricuspid atresia*
Transposition*
Single ventricle
* Also appears on DDx of Cyanosis with
Inc
Vascularity
CHF In Newborn
Impede Return of Flow to Left Heart
Infantile coarctation
Congenital aortic stenosis
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome
Congenital mitral stenosis
Cor triatriatum
Obstruction to venous return from
lungs
TAPVR from below diaphragm
Two Types
Partial (PAPVR)
Mild physiologic abnormality
Usually asymptomatic
Total (TAPVR)
Serious physiologic abnormalities
Normal heart
Return of
blood from
lungs is by
four pulmonary
veins to LA
RA
LA
RV
LV
PA
Ao
PAPVR
General
One or two of four pulmonary veins may
drain into right atrium
Mild or no physiologic consequence
Associated with ASD
Sinus venosus or ostium secundum types
Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Return
Return of
blood from
lungs is mostly
to LA
One vein
abnormally
connected to
right heart
Frequently
associated with
sinus venosus
or secundum
ASD
RA
LA
RV
LV
PA
Ao
PAPVR
Auckland MRI
Korean Journal of Radiology
TAPVR
General
All have shunt through lungs
R heart
All must also have R
L shunt for
survival
Obligatory ASD to return blood to the systemic
side
All are cyanotic
Identical oxygenation in all four chambers
TAPVR
Types
Supracardiac
Cardiac
Infracardiac
Mixed
TAPVR
Supracardiac Type—Type I
Most common (52%)
Pulmonary veins drain into vertical
vein (behind left pulmonary artery)
left brachiocephalic vein
SVC
DDx: VSD with large thymus
Left
superior
vena cava
Right
superior
vena
cava
Left Brachiocephalic vein
Vertical
vein
TAPVR-Supracardiac Type 1
Pulmonary
veins
Right
atrium
© Frank Netter, MD Novartis®
TAPVR-
Supracardiac
Type 1
© Frank Netter, MD Novartis®
TAPVR
Supracardiac Type 1—X-ray Findings
Snowman heart = dilated SVC+ left
vertical vein
Shunt vasculature 2° increased return
to right heart
Enlargement of right heart 2° volume
overload
TAPVR-Supracardiac Type 1
RA
LA
RV
LV
PA
Ao
TAPVR–Type I–Supracardiac type
Blood moves
through L
brachiocephalic v
to R SVC
Blood from
lungs drains
into left vertical
vein
to L SVC
I
ncreased
return to right
heart overloads
lungs
shunt vessels
ASD provides R
L shunt to
allow
oxygenated
blood to reach
body (moderate
cyanosis)
TAPVR
Cardiac Type—Type II
Second most common: 30%
Blood from lungs
coronary sinus or RA
Coronary sinus more common
Overload of RV
CHF after birth
Increased pulmonary vasculature
20% of I’s and II’s survive to adulthood
Remainder expire in first year
TAPVR-Coronary Sinus-Type II
Coronary
sinus
© Frank Netter, MD Novartis®
TAPVR
© Frank Netter, MD Novartis®
Pulmonary veins
TAPVR–Type II–Cardiac Type
Blood returns
from lung to RA
or coronary sinus
ASD provides R
L shunt to
allow
oxygenated
blood to reach
body (moderate
cyanosis)
I
ncreased
return to right
heart
overloads
lungs
shunt vessels
RA
LA
RV
LV
PA
Ao
TAPVR
Infracardiac Type—Type III
Percent of total: 12%
Long pulmonary veins course down
along esophagus
Empty into portal vein (more
common) or IVC
Vein constricted by diaphragm as it
passes through esophageal hiatus
TAPVR-Type III-Infradiaphragmatic
Portal vein
Pulmonary
veins
© Frank Netter, MD Novartis®
TAPVR
Infracardiac Type—Continued
Severe CHF (90%) 2° obstruction
to
venous return
Cyanotic 2° right
left shunt
through ASD
Associated with asplenia (80%), or
polysplenia
Prognosis=death within a few days
TAPVR–Type III–Infracardiac type
ASD provides
R
L shunt to
allow
oxygenated
blood to reach
body (cyanotic)
CHF vasculature
RA
LA
RV
LV
PA
Ao
Blood returning
from lungs
pulmonary veins
which are
constricted by
diaphragm
CHF
To portal v
IVC
RA
TAPVR
Mixed Type—Type IV
Percent of total: 6%
Mixtures of types I – III
TAPVR
© Frank Netter, MD Novartis®
University of Minnesota
The End