Alternative pathways taken by blood when the normal route through an artery or vein is blocked or has not developed properly. Because of the obstruction the alternative pathways (collateral’s) may increase in size and eventually may become nearly as large as the original artery or vein, which is blocked. In some conditions (e.g. Pulmonary Atresia) … Read more
A defect or disease affecting the heart from birth (compare with ‘Acquired Heart Disease’).
In this complex malformation, the ventricles are on the opposite side of the heart to usual. The atria are connected to the incorrect ventricles and the great arteries also come from the wrong ventricles (transposition). Despite these problems, blood from the lungs passes to the aorta, so the child is not cyanosed. Other heart defects … Read more