There has been dramatic progress in the field of vascular anomalies in recent years, including improved understanding of the classification of these lesions, their natural history, and optimal management strategies. This section discusses only vascular anomalies that have the potential…
Introduction An abnormally positioned heart is not in itself a malformation of major significance. Such abnormal positioning, for example, can be secondary to a deformity or defect of the chest wall, such as pectus excavatum or carinatum. The exceptions are…
Introduction The so-called Rathke diagram, showing six pairs of arteries encircling the tracheoesophageal pedicle, is still frequently used to provide an understanding of the morphogenesis of abnormalities of the brachiocephalic arteries in human patients with congenitally malformed hearts ( Fig.…
Introduction The aortic arch, the arterial duct, and the right and left pulmonary arteries have a close spatial relationship with the major airways and the esophagus. Due to this close proximity, abnormalities in the size, position, and/or pattern of branching…
This chapter discusses the range of congenital coronary anomalies that may be found in an otherwise structurally normal heart, first reviewing the anatomy and development of the coronary arteries before focusing on the most clinically significant anomalies of coronary artery…
Introduction Coarctation derives from the Latin term coartatio , which translated literally means “a drawing together.” Aortic coarctation, therefore, indicates a narrowing at some point along the course of the aorta. When used in the context of the congenitally malformed…
Introduction It is well recognized that obstruction within outflow tract of the morphologically left ventricle may be above the arterial valve, at the level of the valve itself, or in the subvalvar region. The arterial valve of the morphologically left…
The right ventricle (RV) can be hypoplastic in various settings. It can be small in the presence of deficient ventricular or atrioventricular septation, producing so-called left ventricular dominance. The chamber can also be small and incomplete in the setting of…
This chapter discusses pulmonary stenosis as an isolated finding. When pulmonary stenosis exists as part of a more complex anomaly, such as tetralogy of Fallot, the reader is directed to the complete descriptions found in the relevant chapters. Incidence and…
Historical Considerations When Siegal reexamined the original second century Greek text of Galen, he pointed out that Galen was familiar with many aspects of the fetal circulation even though he did not realize that blood circulated. Galen understood that fetal…