Q21.4: Aortopulmonary septal defect

You have two large arteries connected to each other in your heart. This defect is congenital, which means you were born with it.

Major, important blood vessels branch out of the heart. The main artery (aorta), originating from the left lower chamber (ventricle) of the heart, supplies the whole body with oxygen-rich blood. The right ventricle pumps oxygen-poor blood through the pulmonary artery to the lungs, where the blood is then enriched with oxygen.

Normally, the main artery (aorta) and pulmonary artery are separate from each other. Your aorta and pulmonary artery fused together while your heart was developing before you were born. These two arteries are connected to each other as a result. This causes the oxygen-rich blood to flow from the aorta directly back into the pulmonary artery, leading to less oxygen-rich blood getting to the body.

If the arteries have grown together, the heart often no longer pumps the blood adequately through the body. You can then have various problems. Symptoms usually occur shortly after birth. Shortness of breath and becoming tired quickly are common symptoms. As a baby, for example, you may be too weak to drink. Normal growth is often affected. You may also have pneumonia more often.