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Double Outlet Right Ventricle (DORV)

Medically reviewed by: Renelle George, MD

What Is Double Outlet Right Ventricle (DORV)?

Double outlet right ventricle (DORV) is a heart defect where the aorta connects to the heart in the wrong place. DORV is a congenital heart defect, which means a baby who has it is born with it.

Usually, the aorta is attached to the left ventricle (pumping chamber), and the pulmonary artery is attached to the right ventricle. In babies with DORV, both vessels are attached to the right ventricle.

Along with the misplaced aorta, babies with DORV also have a ventricular septal defect (VSD), a hole in the wall that normally separates the left and right ventricles.

Babies born with DORV almost always show signs of the problem within a few days of birth. Surgery is needed to correct the problem.

What Happens in Double Outlet Right Ventricle (DORV)?

The normal heart has two main jobs:

  1. It receives oxygen-poor blood back from the body and pumps it to the lungs to pick up a fresh supply of oxygen, making the blood oxygen-rich again.