Ebstein's Anomaly Research Paper
Cody Notbohm
Dr. Lori Wilson
BIO 460
24 November 2015
Ebstein’s Anomaly: An Overview Ebstein’s anomaly is a congenital malformation within the heart defined by clear apical displacement of the septal and posterior leaflets of the tricuspid valve. This condition can lead to right ventricular atrialization, which, in other words, a portion of the right ventricle functionally becomes a part of the right atrium due to abnormal positioning of the leaflets or flaps. Moreover, the atrialization of the right ventricle leads to a larger than normal right atrium and a smaller than normal right ventricle in size. With Ebstein’s anomaly, pulmonary atresia, right ventricular conduction deficiencies, atrial septal defect, and Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome are common comorbidities that accompany this congenital malformation (Cite). …show more content…
The leaflet displacement with this heart condition can eventually lead to tricuspid regurgitation, which affects the body’s hemodynamics.
The right ventricular atrialization effect is what causes blood flow to be stagnant within the right atrium, because during ventricular systole the atrialized portion of the right ventricle contracts in sync with the entire right ventricle, inflicting a backward flow of blood into the right atrium. With regards to pressures, “Right ventricular and pulmonary artery pressures are usually normal in patients with the anomaly, although the right ventricular end-diastolic pressure may be increased” (Cite). Also, atrial septal defect can occur, which lowers oxygen levels throughout the body and results in deoxygenated blood in the right atrium to venture into the left atrium
(Cite).
According to Figure 1, a subject with severe Ebstein’s anomaly may have tall P waves due to the increased size of the right atrium, prolonged PR intervals, right bundle branch block, and rather incoherent QRS complexes. Usually the R waves in both V1 and V2 are quite small, and the QRS complexes are abnormal mainly because of the effect of right ventricular atrialization. Individuals with Ebstein’s anomaly can engage in physical activity depending on the severity of their condition. If a person is an athlete with only mild severity and no dysrhythmias present, then he or she can participate in all forms of physical exertion. However, if an athlete has a severe form of Ebstein’s anomaly, he or she cannot participate in any type of sports unless the anomaly has somehow been physically repaired, the size of the heart is optimal, and no history of any dysrhythmia (Cite).
Fig. 1 (Cite)
Works Cited
Dr. Lori Wilson
BIO 460
24 November 2015
Ebstein’s Anomaly: An Overview Ebstein’s anomaly is a congenital malformation within the heart defined by clear apical displacement of the septal and posterior leaflets of the tricuspid valve. This condition can lead to right ventricular atrialization, which, in other words, a portion of the right ventricle functionally becomes a part of the right atrium due to abnormal positioning of the leaflets or flaps. Moreover, the atrialization of the right ventricle leads to a larger than normal right atrium and a smaller than normal right ventricle in size. With Ebstein’s anomaly, pulmonary atresia, right ventricular conduction deficiencies, atrial septal defect, and Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome are common comorbidities that accompany this congenital malformation (Cite). …show more content…
The leaflet displacement with this heart condition can eventually lead to tricuspid regurgitation, which affects the body’s hemodynamics.
The right ventricular atrialization effect is what causes blood flow to be stagnant within the right atrium, because during ventricular systole the atrialized portion of the right ventricle contracts in sync with the entire right ventricle, inflicting a backward flow of blood into the right atrium. With regards to pressures, “Right ventricular and pulmonary artery pressures are usually normal in patients with the anomaly, although the right ventricular end-diastolic pressure may be increased” (Cite). Also, atrial septal defect can occur, which lowers oxygen levels throughout the body and results in deoxygenated blood in the right atrium to venture into the left atrium
(Cite).
According to Figure 1, a subject with severe Ebstein’s anomaly may have tall P waves due to the increased size of the right atrium, prolonged PR intervals, right bundle branch block, and rather incoherent QRS complexes. Usually the R waves in both V1 and V2 are quite small, and the QRS complexes are abnormal mainly because of the effect of right ventricular atrialization. Individuals with Ebstein’s anomaly can engage in physical activity depending on the severity of their condition. If a person is an athlete with only mild severity and no dysrhythmias present, then he or she can participate in all forms of physical exertion. However, if an athlete has a severe form of Ebstein’s anomaly, he or she cannot participate in any type of sports unless the anomaly has somehow been physically repaired, the size of the heart is optimal, and no history of any dysrhythmia (Cite).
Fig. 1 (Cite)
Works Cited