Thoracic Key

Persistent truncus arteriosus is a rare cardiac defect caused by the failure of the primitive arterial trunk to divide into the aorta and the pulmonary artery. Thus, the heart has…

The term double outlet right ventricle (DORV) refers to a variety of cardiac defects, in which both great arteries are connected by more than 50% to the right ventricle ….

Abnormalities of the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) belong to the most common heart defects and are often part of complex cardiac malformations. Obstruction of RVOT can occur at three…

Congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (CCTGA) is a rare cardiac defect characterized by discordance at the atrio-ventricular and ventriculo-arterial level. This is due to an abnormal, leftward looping…

Diseases of the tricuspid valve form a wide range of anomalies that range from benign to critical conditions. Some of these malformations are unsuitable for the creation of a biventricular…

The term “defects of the atrio-ventricular septum” (AVSDs) refers to a variety of cardiac anomalies characterized by the presence of a common atrio-ventricular (AV) junction . This key morphological feature…

The mitral valve is a complex structure that consists of several components, each of which plays a fundamental role in its function. These include the mitral annulus, anterior and posterior…

The atrial septation starts with the development of septum primum, which is followed by the formation of septum secundum. Subsequently, both septae fuse and thus form the interatrial septum. This…

Ventricular septal defects (VSDs) are very common and account for approximately 20%–30% of congenital heart defects, often as part of complex lesions. From the anatomical point of view, the interventricular…

Historically, there have been two main schools of nomenclature of congenital heart defects, the foundations of which were laid in parallel by Robert Anderson from the United Kingdom and by…