INTRACARDIAC SHUNTS

Course overview

INTRACARDIAC SHUNTS ARE ABNORMAL PATHWAYS FOR BLOOD FLOW IN THE HEART THAT FORM EITHER IN ADDITION TO OR IN PLACE OF NORMAL PATHWAYS FOR BLOOD FLOW. THEY ARE THE MOST COMMON CONGENITAL HEART DEFECTS. APPROXIMATELY 0.8% TO 1.2% OF LIVE BIRTHS WORLDWIDE HAVE SOME TYPE OF CONGENITAL HEART ANOMALY. MANAGEMENT OF A SHUNT DEPENDS ON THE DISEASE TYPE AND RANGES FROM SIMPLE CLINICAL OBSERVATION, MEDICAL THERAPY, LIFESTYLE MODIFICATION TO SURGICAL INTERVENTION. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE EVALUATION AND TREATMENT OF INTRACARDIAC SHUNTS AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN EVALUATING AND TREATING PATIENTS WITH THIS CONDITION.