Tricuspid AtresiaNancy McDaniel M.D.The heart in this defect has four chambers but only three valves. The main problem is that the valve between the right collecting chamber (right atrium) and right pumping chamber (right ventricle) did not form. This is called tricuspid atresia. Other defects include a hole between the collecting chambers which allows the blood to circulate (atrial septal defect). There is usually a hole between the pumping chambers (ventricular septal defect). The right collecting chamber is usually very small and there may be narrowing out to the lung artery. Children with this defect may be fairly well with only a mild amount of blueness or they may be very sick. The children who are very blue may need a surgery to give them more blood flow to their lungs (a shunt). When the child is older there is an operation which makes the blue blood go directly to the lungs and the red blood to the body. This surgery (Fontan procedure) is usually done when the child is approximately two years old.
 Normal Heart  |