How are hearts with DORV different?

How are hearts with DORV different?

Normal hearts have four chambers: two atria on top and two ventricles on the bottom. Two major blood vessels, or “great” arteries, normally connect to the ventricles.

• The aorta leaves the left ventricle and carries blood to the rest of the body.
• The pulmonary artery leaves the right ventricle and takes blood to the lungs. The blood picks up oxygen for the body.

With DORV, both great arteries connect to the right ventricle — either totally or in part. The left ventricle has just a part of the either of the great arteries, or no artery at all.

Depending on the connections to the right ventricle, the body could receive oxygen desaturated blood or the lung could receive excessive blood flow. The heart has to work harder to make up for the shortfall. DORV can also cause too much blood to get pumped into the lungs. This extra flow can damage both the heart and the lungs.