Acyanotic heart defect

Acyanotic heart defect
Acyanotic heart defect
Other names	Non-cyanotic heart defect
	Ventricular septum
Specialty	Cardiology

Last updated November 17, 2025

An acyanotic heart defect, is a class of congenital heart defects. In these, blood is shunted (flows) from the left side of the heart to the right side of the heart, most often due to a structural defect (hole) in the interventricular septum.^[1] People often retain normal levels of oxyhemoglobin saturation in systemic circulation.^{[ citation needed ]}

Signs and symptoms

Presentation is the following:^{[ citation needed ]}

Shortness of breath
Congested cough
Diaphoresis
Fatigue
Frequent respiratory infections
Machine-like heart murmur
Tachycardia
Tachypnea
Respiratory distress
Mild cyanosis (in right sided heart failure)
Poor growth and development (from increased energy spent on breathing)

Complications

This condition can cause congestive heart failure.^[1]

Diagnosis

Types

Left to right shunting heart defects include:^{[ citation needed ]}

Ventricular septal defect (VSD) (30% of all congenital heart defects)
Atrial septal defect (ASD)
Atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD)
Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)

Others:^{[ citation needed ]}

levo-Transposition of the great arteries (l-TGA),

Acyanotic heart defects without shunting include:^{[ citation needed ]}

Pulmonary stenosis (a narrowing of the pulmonary valve)
Aortic stenosis
Coarctation of the aorta

Management

Treatment of this condition can be done via:^{[ citation needed ]}

Medications: Digoxin/Lanoxin
Diuretics: Furosemide/Lasix
Surgery

References

1 2 3 Pillitteri, Adele (2013-11-25). Maternal and Child Health Nursing: Care of the Childbearing and Childrearing Family. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 1201. ISBN 9781469833224.

NCLEX-PN Review 2nd Ed. (2006). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 1-58255-915-5.

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[:0-1] 1 2 3 Pillitteri, Adele (2013-11-25). Maternal and Child Health Nursing: Care of the Childbearing and Childrearing Family. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 1201. ISBN 9781469833224.

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