{"id":714,"date":"2020-05-01T09:19:29","date_gmt":"2020-05-01T09:19:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/genesis-foundation.net\/blog\/?p=714"},"modified":"2025-06-10T05:53:04","modified_gmt":"2025-06-10T05:53:04","slug":"all-you-need-to-know-about-the-dorv-heart-defect","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.genesis-foundation.net\/blog\/all-you-need-to-know-about-the-dorv-heart-defect\/","title":{"rendered":"Learning about the Double Outlet Right Ventricle"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Little Olirmathi who is only one year and two months old was born with a complex congenital heart defect. Her association with Genesis Foundation (GF), which is a congenital heart foundation working towards saving these little hearts has been a remarkable journey.<\/p>\n

\"\"Little Olirmathi battled DORV corrective surgery at 1.2 years old.<\/i><\/p>\n

Olirmathi is the younger daughter of Gandhimathi and Selvakumar of Vellore district in Tamil Nadu. When she was two months old, she developed pneumonia along with seizures. Her parents took her to a government hospital in Chennai where she was detected with a heart murmur. Once she was admitted and stabilized, her treatment for seizures began. However, later on when an Echo was performed, the resulting diagnosis was Double Outlet Right Ventricle (DORV) with severe Pulmonary Stenosis which meant there was an overriding of the Aorta and the Pulmonary Artery. Her Aorta was originating more from the right ventricle.<\/p>\n

After being out on medicines for a year, she was called for a review. After the echo was repeated, the diagnosis was confirmed. Olirmathi required Biventricular Repair (with RV to PA Conduit). In simpler terms it meant she needed an open-heart surgery.<\/strong> One of their relatives in Chennai knew a doctor in a private hospital, but the amount required for the surgery was exorbitant. They returned to Vellore, dejected.<\/p>\n

Like every cloud has a silver lining, Genesis Foundation became Olirmathi\u2019s beacon of hope. A paediatrician referred them to Miot Hospital in Chennai and through GF\u2019s CSR partnership with K&S Partners, the required financial assistance for Olirmathi\u2019s operation was successfully provided. Her parents were counselled for the surgery and Olirmathi underwent the corrective surgery with a conduit placed from the Right Ventricle to Pulmonary Artery. Olirmathi is a healthy girl and her condition is quite stable now.<\/p>\n

What is the Double Outlet Right Ventricle Heart Defect? <\/strong><\/p>\n

Double Outlet Right Ventricle (DORV) is a rare congenital heart defect in which the pulmonary artery and the aorta, that are the heart\u2019s two major arteries – both connect to the right ventricle. And therein lies the problem, because it is the left ventricle – the chamber which is responsible for pumping oxygen-rich blood to the body<\/p>\n

In a normal heart, the pulmonary artery connects to the right ventricle, and the aorta connects to the left ventricle. DORV creates a problem because the right ventricle carries oxygen-poor blood, which then gets circulated in the body.<\/strong> The term DORV was first coined by Dr. Witham in 1957<\/p>\n

\"\"Difference between a normal heart and a heart with the DORV defect <\/i><\/p>\n

A Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) or an abnormal opening (hole) is always associated with DORV. The VSD allows the oxygen-rich blood to pass from the left ventricle to the aorta and pulmonary artery. But even with this added oxygen, the body does not get enough of it, causing the heart to work harder.<\/p>\n

Types & Symptoms of DORV<\/strong><\/p>\n

DORV can be classified into 4 types depending on the location of the VSD<\/p>\n