K
KimC
Hi,
Does anyone know what an intracardiac shunt is?
Thanks,
Kim
Does anyone know what an intracardiac shunt is?
Thanks,
Kim
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Nancy
Well-known member
If you do a search on Google using that term, there is a lot of information.
Kim,
An intercardiac shunt refers to there being some opening between the right and left atrium or the right and left ventricle, that because of the pressure differences, some blood flows in one direction or the other. Depending on which direction it flows it is called a right to left shunt or a left to right shunt.
Sometimes a child is born with an opening there and requires surgery to correct it. What they do depends on the size and how much blood is getting mixed. Sometimes there is a temporary one like after a right and left heart catherization where they have to make a little hole in the septum to feed a catheter through....in that case it usually eventually closes by itself.
This is just what I remember, I haven't looked it up but you can probably find much more on the web. Why do you ask?
An intercardiac shunt refers to there being some opening between the right and left atrium or the right and left ventricle, that because of the pressure differences, some blood flows in one direction or the other. Depending on which direction it flows it is called a right to left shunt or a left to right shunt.
Sometimes a child is born with an opening there and requires surgery to correct it. What they do depends on the size and how much blood is getting mixed. Sometimes there is a temporary one like after a right and left heart catherization where they have to make a little hole in the septum to feed a catheter through....in that case it usually eventually closes by itself.
This is just what I remember, I haven't looked it up but you can probably find much more on the web. Why do you ask?
K
KimC
Thank you. This is what my cardio suspects that I have, and why he ordered my upcoming angiogram.
K
KimC
P.S. I have no idea if the test is warranted; isn't this something doctors would've found years ago? I'll Google it.
Ross
Well-known member
Not necessarily Kim. While it may have been present or at least the beginnings, it may not have been there. The Angiogram would be the best way to find out how things are flowing through the heart and at what pressures.
K
KimC
Ross, that's exactly what my cardio said re: pressures. I have so much to learn. My appt. is on Mon.; I spoke to my OB briefly today and got more info.
I've decided to head "home," (or at least where I grew up) for the big tests exactly 12 weeks postpartum. My dad and brother are docs there.
Kim
I've decided to head "home," (or at least where I grew up) for the big tests exactly 12 weeks postpartum. My dad and brother are docs there.
Kim
Ross
Well-known member
Wow you could understand this?
That's the best DUH statement I've done in a while. It should've ended with "at all".
K
KimC
It's late! I got it though.
Yeah Ross, I followed your train of thought without a hitch. Scary, huh! I write some real doozies sometimes too.
