Pulmonary shunt

Pulmonary Shunt

A Pulmonary Shunt (pronunciation: puhl-MON-uh-ree shuhnt) is a medical term used to describe a condition where the blood does not get oxygenated in the lungs due to bypassing of the alveoli. This can occur due to various reasons such as lung diseases or heart defects.

Etymology

The term 'Pulmonary' is derived from the Latin word 'pulmonarius', meaning 'of the lungs'. 'Shunt' is derived from the Old English 'scunten', meaning 'to avoid'.

Definition

A Pulmonary Shunt is a physiological condition that occurs when the alveoli in the lungs are perfused with blood as normal, but ventilation (the supply of air) fails to supply the perfused region. In other words, the ventilation/perfusion ratio is zero.

Causes

Pulmonary Shunts can be caused by several conditions including Pneumonia, Atelectasis, Pulmonary Edema, and certain congenital heart defects such as Tetralogy of Fallot and Transposition of the Great Arteries.

Symptoms

Symptoms of a Pulmonary Shunt can include Cyanosis, shortness of breath, and fatigue. In severe cases, it can lead to Hypoxemia (low blood oxygen levels).

Treatment

Treatment for a Pulmonary Shunt depends on the underlying cause. It may include oxygen therapy, medications, or in severe cases, surgery.

Related Terms

• Alveoli
• Perfusion
• Ventilation
• Hypoxemia
• Cyanosis

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Pulmonary shunt
• Wikipedia's article - Pulmonary shunt

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