Which type of congenital heart defect is associated with increased pulmonary blood flow?

Prepare for the Capstone Nursing Care of Children Exam. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question provides hints and explanations. Ace your test!

Increased pulmonary blood flow is a hallmark of several congenital heart defects, particularly those that result in left-to-right shunting. A patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) allows blood to flow from the aorta to the pulmonary artery, which is not how blood is typically routed in a healthy heart. This shunting increases the volume of blood that flows into the lungs, leading to elevated pulmonary blood flow.

In a PDA, the ductus arteriosus, which is a normal fetal structure that connects the pulmonary artery to the aorta, fails to close after birth. As a result, oxygenated blood from the aorta mixes with deoxygenated blood in the pulmonary artery. This can lead to pulmonary overcirculation and potential complications such as heart failure and pulmonary hypertension if left untreated.

While conditions like ventricular septal defects and atrial septal defects also cause increased pulmonary blood flow, the question specifically highlights the PDA as the correct answer. Coarctation of the aorta typically results in decreased blood flow to the lower body and may not lead to increased pulmonary circulation in the same manner as the other defects mentioned.

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