What Is Double Inlet Left Ventricle?
Double inlet left ventricle is a rare birth defect in which the tricuspid valve and the mitral valve both lead into the left ventricle. These valves act as doors, letting blood flow from the atria to the ventricle. Normally, the tricuspid valve leads into the right ventricle, and the mitral valve leads into the left ventricle. A wall called the septum separates the two ventricles. With this defect, both valves let blood flow into the left ventricle, and only the left ventricle works. Because the right ventricle is not being used, it is small and not well developed. This is also called a single-ventricle heart defect because children with this defect have only one pumping chamber in their heart that works. Single-ventricle defects are some of the most complex heart birth defects.
