Question 1

what does small patent foramen ovale with noted bidirectional shunt mean?

Accepted Answer

A small hole: in the wall between the atria, the upper chambers of the heart.  Bidirectional flow means the right and left sided pressures are equal so blood flows in both directions.

Question 2

atrial septum defects: right to left shunt, what is all this?

Accepted Answer

ASD: Usually with an atrial septal defect the blood flow or shunt goes from left to right, however, in some situations when there is pulmonary hypertension the shunting goes from right to left.  The problem with that is it causes some of the blood to bypass the lungs and not get the oxygen needed to bring to the tissues.

Question 3

can a small asd with left to right shunt be dangerous? is shunting bad? does it need repaired if small. also have atrial septal aneurysm

Accepted Answer

ASD : If it is small and heart is not enlarged most physicians do not recommend closing an ASD.

Question 4

abnormal shunt left to right atrium suggestive small atrial septal defect can this make the shunt also go right to left if so is it dangerous?

Accepted Answer

Pressure gradient: Blood will flow across a hole in the heart from the higher pressure left to the lower pressure right. If the pressure on the right increases it can become higher than the left, then flow will reverse. That is not a good thing. Most ASD are insignificant.

Question 5

i have an asd with left to right shunt and an atrial septal aneurysm. do these shunts start as right to left then as get worse become left to right?

Accepted Answer

Usually starts L--&gt;R: At birth the left side has higher pressures than the RT side. Thus flow is mainly L--&gt;R. If the ASD is small it may close on its own but if not tends not to cause a problem.  If it is large the flow L--&gt;R increases volume load on the Right leading to increased RT pressure, this will reverse the net flow to Rt--&gt;Lft.  If large it should be closed before development of increase RT pressures.

Question 6

is a pfo the same as atrial septal defect? echo states abnormal shunt suggestive small atrial septal defect.what does suggestive mean is it def small?

Accepted Answer

ASD: A pfo is also an asd. Small ASD is usually fairly easy to tell on echo. Suggestive readings generally are subtle findings. Ask the doctor what the test means, without seeing it, we can't be sure.

Question 7

moderately dilated right ventricle and right atrium. 2. normal left ventricular systolic function.. 5. large asd secundum seen with left to right shunt. report of eco plz check?

Accepted Answer

: A modrately dilated right ventricle and right atrium may occur secondary to the "left to right shunt" from a ASD, which increases redundantly the volume of blood in the right ventricle and right atrium. Normal left ventricular function would indicate that the functional defect from the ASD is not presently a factor in decreasing heart performance.

Question 8

can endocarditis cause atrial septal aneurysm with a pfo or asd shunt?

Accepted Answer

Endocarditis is an: infection of the heart. Atrial septal aneurysm, patent foramen and atrial septal defects are anatomical variants determined by your genetic makeup and embryological development. There is no causal relationship between the two.

Question 9

can a echo or ct scan of the chest diagnose a left to right shunt or atrial septec defect? asd? if not what are the best tests for these two ?

Accepted Answer

Echo best: Usually an echo will identify these and is first line. A ct chest might pick it up if contrasted study and timing right. Talk to your dr or a cardiologist for evaluation.

Question 10

how often does a shunt have to be replaced ?

Accepted Answer

Depends: It depends on the growth of the child, if the shunt gets plugged or infected.

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Doctor answers about:

Bidirectional shunt atrial

A member asked:

What does small patent foramen ovale with noted bidirectional shunt mean?

A member asked:

Atrial septum defects: right to left shunt, what is all this?

A member asked:

Can a small asd with left to right shunt be dangerous? is shunting bad? does it need repaired if small. also have atrial septal aneurysm

A member asked:

Abnormal shunt left to right atrium suggestive small atrial septal defect can this make the shunt also go right to left if so is it dangerous?

A member asked:

I have an asd with left to right shunt and an atrial septal aneurysm. do these shunts start as right to left then as get worse become left to right?

A member asked:

Is a pfo the same as atrial septal defect? echo states abnormal shunt suggestive small atrial septal defect.what does suggestive mean is it def small?

A member asked:

Moderately dilated right ventricle and right atrium. 2. normal left ventricular systolic function.. 5. large asd secundum seen with left to right shunt. report of eco plz check?

A member asked:

Can endocarditis cause atrial septal aneurysm with a pfo or asd shunt?

A member asked:

Can a echo or ct scan of the chest diagnose a left to right shunt or atrial septec defect? asd? if not what are the best tests for these two ?

A member asked:

How often does a shunt have to be replaced ?

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