left to right shunts

Last reviewed 01/2018

These can occur at various different sites:

  • atrial level - atrial septal defect
  • ventricular level - ventricular septal defect
  • level of the great arteries - patent ductus arteriosus
  • communication can occur from a great artery to atrium or ventricle eg ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm
  • communication from ventricle to atrium - left ventricle to right atrium
  • left to right communication can occur at several levels - atrioventricular defect