What are problems caused by a Interrupted Aortic Arch / ventricular septal defect?
In patients with Interrupted Aortic Arch, oxygen-rich blood from the left side of the heart is not able to reach all areas of the body because of the defect in the aortic arch. An infant with Interrupted Aortic Arch must depend on an alternate way to get adequate blood flow to the lower body. Normally, a fetus has an extra arterial connection called a ductus arteriosus. The ductus arteriosus is critical to survival in the womb. Shortly after birth, the ductus arteriosus usually closes. If the ductus arteriosus remains open, it is called a patent ductus arteriosus (or “PDA”). In a child with Interrupted Aortic Arch, the PDA provides a critical alternate way to get adequate blood flow to the lower body. While the ductus arteriosus is open, infants may not have noticeable symptoms and may not be diagnosed. As the ductus arteriosus starts to close, however, the infant begins to show signs and symptoms of inadequate blood flow to the area after the interruption. Inadequate blood flow to the
