Overview

Double outlet right ventricle (DORV) is an abnormal heart condition in which two major arteries (instead of one) connect to your right ventricle or heart chamber. This is a congenital heart condition, which means you’re born with it.

Usually, each of your major blood vessels or “great” arteries connects to one of your heart’s two ventricles.

  • Your pulmonary artery branches off from your right ventricle and takes blood to your lungs to get oxygen.
  • Your aorta branches off from your left ventricle and carries blood with fresh oxygen in it to the rest of your body.

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

Double outlet right ventricle can cause your body to receive oxygen-poor blood instead of blood with plenty of oxygen in it. Also, your lungs may receive excessive blood flow, which makes your heart work harder and can damage your heart and lungs.

Babies with DORV often have other congenital (since birth) problems:

  • Ciliary dysfunction: Problems develop with tiny, hairlike structures that line a baby’s airway.
  • Heterotaxy: Organs in a baby’s chest and belly aren’t in the usual places.
  • Intestinal malrotation: A baby’s intestines twist in an unusual way.
  • Pulmonary stenosis: A baby’s pulmonary valve (between the right ventricle and pulmonary artery) is too small or stiff.
  • Ventricular hypoplasia: One or both heart ventricles are smaller than they should be.

Types of double outlet right ventricle

Babies with DORV always have a ventricular septal defect (VSD), too. This hole in the septum or wall between the two ventricles lets blood flow through the hole and between the ventricles.

Healthcare providers classify DORV by the location of the hole:

  • DORV with subaortic VSD: The VSD is just under the aorta.
  • DORV with subpulmonary VSD (also called Taussig-Bing): The VSD is just under the pulmonary artery.
  • DORV with doubly committed VSD: There is a VSD under both of the great arteries.
  • DORV with noncommitted (or remote) VSD: The VSD isn’t near the aorta or the pulmonary artery.

How common is double outlet right ventricle?

DORV is rare. It happens just once for every 6,000 to 10,000 newborns.

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Symptoms

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Complications

Blood clots are a dangerous complication of atrial fibrillation (AFib). Blood clots can lead to stroke.
The risk of stroke from AFib increases as you grow older. Other health conditions also may increase the risk of a stroke due to AFib. These conditions include:
  • High blood pressure.
  • Diabetes.
  • Heart failure.
  • Some types of heart valve disease.
Blood thinners are commonly prescribed to prevent blood clots and strokes in people with atrial fibrillation.

Prevention

Healthy lifestyle choices can reduce the risk of heart disease and may prevent atrial fibrillation (AFib). Here are some basic heart-healthy tips:
  • Control high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
  • Don't smoke or use tobacco.
  • Eat a diet that's low in salt and saturated fat.
  • Exercise at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week unless your health care team says not to.
  • Get good sleep. Adults should aim for 7 to 9 hours daily.
  • Maintain a healthy weight.
  • Reduce and manage stress.


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