Absent Pulmonary Valve
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(rollover to compare with normal) What Are Its Effects?

As a result of the malformation of the pulmonary valve, the pulmonary artery becomes greatly enlarged and may interfere with breathing by compressing the bronchial tubes. The large ventricular septal defect allows the mixing of oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor blood in the two ventricles. If also associated with some degree of pulmonary valve stenosis, a significant amount of the poorly oxygenated blood enters the systemic circulation from across the VSD and is carried to the body's tissues, resulting in "blueness" or cyanosis.