Our patient - cardiac cath

Our patient's diagnosis has been well defined by the bedside findings and the laboratory assessment. Cardiac catheterization is not indicated for our patient. Cardiac catheterization is not necessary in the evaluation of an uncomplicated small-to-moderate ventricular septal defect and seldom necessary in the evaluation of an uncomplicated large defect.

Cath indications

A potential indication for cardiac catheterization occurs in a patient with a large defect that demonstrates clinical evidence of either elevated pulmonary vascular resistance or aortic valve involvement. In these cases, hemodynamic and/or anatomic assessments may be necessary in order to make proper decisions regarding patient management. Cardiac catheterization also may be employed for patients with a large defect in whom device closure can be accomplished

Another patient - large VSD

These are measurements obtained at cardiac catheterization in another patient with a large ventricular septal defect and clinical evidence of pulmonary hypertension. Oxygen content is given in milliliters of oxygen per liter of blood and pressures are given in millimeters or mercury. The patient's oxygen carrying capacity, the maximum amount of oxygen that can be carried by blood, breathing room air at sea levelis 200 ml/liter. The patient's measured oxygen consumption is 180 ml/minute. Systemic blood flow calculates at 3 L/minute and the pulmonary blood flow at 4.5 L/minute. Shunt flow, therefore, calculates at 1.5 L/minute.

Pulmonary/systemic vascular resistance ratio

The development of elevated pulmonary vascular resistance increases the risk of surgery and negatively impacts the patient's prognosis.