(rollover to compare with normal) |
|
What Is It?
In this rare defect, the pulmonary valve, through which blood
is pumped by the right ventricle to the lungs, is largely absent
and leaks. Absent pulmonary valve in isolation from other defects
is rare. The most common associated defect is tetralogy of Fallot.
It may also occur with ventricular septal defect, abnormal tricuspid
valve, double outlet right ventricle, and atrioventricular septal
defects.
The absence of the pulmonary valve results in a spectrum of mild
to massive dilatation (enlargement) of the pulmonary arteries
(2 in diagram at left). In addition, there may also be a large
ventricular septal defect (VSD), or hole in the dividing wall
(septum) between the right and left ventricles.
1) absent pulmonary valve
2) enlargement (dilatation) of the pulmonary artery
3) ventricular septal defect (VSD) |
