NURS 6501: MIDTERM EXAM: Please contact Assignment Samurai for help with NURS 6501: Midterm Exam or any other assignment. Email: assignmentsamurai@gmail.com   A ventricular septal defect, with blood flow from the left ventricle to the right ventricle, is an example of which type of cardiac pathology? Group of answer choices

• Flow obstruction
• Regurgitant flow
• Shunted flow
• Pump failure

The correct answer is Shunted flow. Explanation: A ventricular septal defect (VSD) is a congenital heart defect where there is an abnormal hole in the wall (septum) separating the left and right ventricles of the heart. This causes blood to flow from the left ventricle, which is under higher pressure, to the right ventricle, which is at a lower pressure. This abnormal flow of blood between the ventricles is called a shunt. In this case:

• The left-to-right shunt refers to blood flowing from the higher-pressure left ventricle into the lower-pressure right ventricle.
• Shunted flow is typically associated with an increase in blood volume in the right side of the heart and potentially the lungs, leading to pulmonary over-circulation.

Why the other options are incorrect:

• Flow obstruction: This refers to conditions where blood flow is physically blocked, such as in cases of aortic stenosis or pulmonary valve stenosis. VSD does not cause an obstruction but a diversion of flow.
• Regurgitant flow: This involves the backward flow of blood due to valve insufficiency (e.g., mitral regurgitation), where blood flows backward into the atrium rather than being pumped forward.
• Pump failure: This occurs when the heart's pumping ability is impaired, as seen in conditions like heart failure. While a VSD can lead to complications, it primarily causes a shunted flow, not pump failure directly.

Conclusion: A ventricular septal defect causes shunted flow, where blood flows abnormally from the left to the right ventricle, disrupting normal circulation.