What is Eisenmenger syndrome? Cardiology Basics

What is Eisenmenger syndrome? Cardiology Basics Eisenmenger syndrome is a late complication of congenital heart diseases with large left to right shunts. Fortunately, it is rare now-a-days because most conditions which can cause Eisenmenger syndrome later, are detected by neonatal screening and treated early so that this complication does not develop later. Eisenmenger syndrome is a condition in which long standing high pulmonary blood flow leads to irreversible pulmonary hypertension with reversal of shunt. Right to left shunt causes reduced systemic oxygen saturation with cyanosis. This is an echocardiogram showing a left to right shunt from the left ventricle to the right ventricle. Left to right shunt occurs in VSD because the left ventricular pressure is normally much higher than that in the right ventricle. This diagram illustrates a left to right shunt across a patent ductus arteriosus. Normally ductus arteriosus which is present in the fetus closes soon after birth because of higher oxygen saturation when lungs start functioning. Strongest stimulus for constriction of a mature ductus is oxygen. Ductus arteriosus in a premature infant does not respond that well to oxygen and that is why incidence of PDA is higher in preterm infants. In PDA, blood flows from the aorta at systemic pressure to the pulmonary artery which has a much lower pressure after birth. When there is an atrial septal defect, there is a left to right shunt from the left atrium to right atrium. The exc...
Source: Cardiophile MD - Category: Cardiology Authors: Tags: General Cardiology Source Type: blogs