aortic override

Aortic override occurs when the aorta, the main artery carrying blood from the heart to the body, is positioned over a ventricular septal defect (VSD), a hole between the heart’s ventricles. Instead of exclusively receiving blood from the left ventricle, the aorta receives blood from both the left and right ventricles. This abnormal placement causes oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor blood to mix, which can lead to less oxygen reaching the body. Aortic override often indicates congenital heart defects and may require medical evaluation and intervention to correct or manage the condition.