Which congenital heart defect is most likely to present with a single loud S2 on auscultation?

Prepare for the Neonatal/Pediatric Specialist Test. Use flashcards and multiple-choice questions with hints and explanations. Ready yourself for the exam!

Multiple Choice

Which congenital heart defect is most likely to present with a single loud S2 on auscultation?

Explanation:
A single loud S2 means the two valve closures that normally produce A2 and P2 are not heard separately. In transposition of the great arteries, the great vessels arise from the opposite ventricles, creating parallel rather than series circulation. This arrangement leads to a dominant aortic component of the second heart sound with the pulmonary component diminished or fused, so the result is a single, loud S2. The neonate relies on mixing (via PDA, ASD, or VSD) to survive, but the auscultatory finding of a single, prominent S2 is a classic clue for this defect.

A single loud S2 means the two valve closures that normally produce A2 and P2 are not heard separately. In transposition of the great arteries, the great vessels arise from the opposite ventricles, creating parallel rather than series circulation. This arrangement leads to a dominant aortic component of the second heart sound with the pulmonary component diminished or fused, so the result is a single, loud S2. The neonate relies on mixing (via PDA, ASD, or VSD) to survive, but the auscultatory finding of a single, prominent S2 is a classic clue for this defect.

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