Julia Ebestein is a congenital heart defect characterized by an abnormal connection between the aorta and the right atrium. Normally, the aorta carries oxygenated blood away from the heart to the body, while the right atrium receives deoxygenated blood from the body. In Julia Ebestein’s anomaly, the septal leaflet of the tricuspid valve, which normally separates the right atrium from the right ventricle, is displaced downward, allowing oxygenated blood from the left ventricle to flow back into the right atrium.
This defect can lead to a number of complications, including cyanosis (a bluish tint to the skin, lips, and nail beds), shortness of breath, fatigue, and heart failure. Treatment for Julia Ebestein’s anomaly typically involves surgery to repair the tricuspid valve and restore normal blood flow.
