A ventricular outflow tract obstruction is a heart condition in which either the right or left ventricular outflow tract is blocked or obstructed. These obstructions represent a spectrum of disorders. Majority of these cases are congenital, but some are not.[1]
Ventricular outflow tract obstruction | |
---|---|
Human heart | |
Specialty | Cardiology |
Causes | Congenital or acquired |
Treatment | Surgery, medications, catheter based procedures (i.e. valvuloplasty) |
Different types
Right ventricular outflow tract obstruction
A right ventricular outflow tract obstruction (RVOTO) may be due to a defect in the pulmonic valve, the supravalvar region, the infundibulum, or the pulmonary artery.[2]
Left ventricular outflow tract obstruction
A left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO) may be due to a defect in the aortic valve, or a defect located at the subvalvar or supravalvar level.[1][3]
Pathophysiology
A ventricular outflow tract obstruction means there is a limitation in the blood flow out of either the right or left ventricles of the heart, depending on where the obstruction is. This can lead to cardiac hypertrophy, dilatation of the heart, and ultimately heart failure in some cases.[1] The right side of the heart is much smaller and weaker than the left side of the heart. It pumps de-oxygenated blood into the lungs. The left side of the heart is more muscular than the right side of the heart. It pumps oxygenated blood from the lungs into the aorta to perfuse the rest of the body.[4] When the heart has to pump against increased resistance, or afterload, as in the case of a ventricular obstruction, it compensates by growing in size. This adaptation is beneficial to pump blood past the obstruction, but eventually this hypertrophy can lead to other problems including arrhythmias, ischemia, and heart failure.[5]
References
- ^ a b c Vilcant, Viliane; Hai, Ofek (2022). "Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Obstruction". StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing.
- ^ "Adult congenital heart disease: right ventricular outflow tract lesions". Circulation. 115 (14): 1933–1947. 2007. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.105.592345. PMID 17420363.
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(help) - ^ "Congenital left ventricular outflow tract obstruction". Journal of Heart Valve Disease. 2 (1): 80–93. 1993. PMID 7505702.
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(help) - ^ "Normal Heart". myhealth.alberta.ca.
- ^ Samak, M; Fatullayev, J; Sabashnikov, A; Zeriouh, M; Schmack, B; Farag, M; Popov, AF; Dohmen, PM; Choi, YH; Wahlers, T; Weymann, A (23 July 2016). "Cardiac Hypertrophy: An Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Basis". Medical science monitor basic research. 22: 75–9. doi:10.12659/MSMBR.900437. PMID 27450399.