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Double outlet right ventricle - Treatment

Alternative Names

DORV; Taussig-Bing anomaly; DORV with doubly-committed VSD; DORV with noncommitted VSD; DORV with subaortic VSD

Treatment:

Treatment requires surgery to close the holes in the heart. Surgery may also be needed to fix other existing problems in the heart.

Several factors determine the type and number of operations the baby needs. They include:

The type of DORV
The severity of the defect
The presence of other problems in the heart
The child's overall condition

Expectations (prognosis):

How well the baby does depends on several factors:

The size of the VSD
Its location
The size of the pumping chambers
The location of the aorta and pulmonary artery
The presence of additional complications (such as coarctation of the aorta and mitral valve problems)
The baby's overall health at the time of diagnosis
Whether irreversible lung damage has occurred

Complications:

Complications from DORV may include:

Congestive heart failure (CHF)
High blood pressure in the lungs
Irreversible damage to the lungs due to untreated high blood pressure in the lungs

All children with this congenital heart disease should take antibiotics before dental treatment. This prevents infections around the heart.

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if your child seems to tire easily, has trouble breathing, or has bluish skin or lips. You should also consult your health care provider if your baby is not growing or gaining weight.

Double outlet right ventricle

Reviewed last on: 4/30/2010
Kurt R. Schumacher, MD, Pediatric Cardiology, University of Michigan Congenital Heart Center, Ann Arbor, MI. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Behrman RE, Kliegman RM, Jenson HB, eds. Behrman: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, 17th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier; 2004:1524.

Park MK. Park: Pediatric Cardiology for Practitioners, 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Mosby Elsevier; 2008:287-292.

Townsend Jr. CM, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, et al, eds. Townsend: Sabiston Textbook of Surgery, 18th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier; 2008:1772.

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