Final answer:
Acyanotic heart defects include conditions such as patent foramen ovale, patent ductus arteriosus, and coarctation of the aorta. Unlike cyanotic heart defects like tetralogy of Fallot, these defects do not generally lead to cyanosis. Diagnosis often begins with auscultation and is followed by medical imaging, with treatment ranging from observation to surgery.
Step-by-step explanation:
Acyanotic heart defects represent a group of congenital anomalies that affect the cardiovascular system without necessarily causing cyanosis. Patent foramen ovale (PFO) and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) are examples of acyanotic defects where there is an abnormal persistence of fetal circulatory structures post-birth.
In the case of PFO, an opening in the interatrial septum persists, while in PDA, the ductus arteriosus fails to close. Another acyanotic condition is coarctation of the aorta, characterized by the narrowing of the aorta, which may lead to hypertension and other issues.
In contrast, the tetralogy of Fallot is a severe septal defect associated with cyanotic heart defects, which includes four anatomical heart malformations, often leading to the 'blue baby' syndrome due to insufficiently oxygenated blood.
Diagnosis of septal defects is typically initiated with auscultation to detect abnormal heart sounds and confirmed through medical imaging, such as echocardiography. While some defects may be severe and require extensive surgical repair, others can be benign or mild enough to only require monitoring or non-invasive treatment.