A Congenital Heart Defect is a problem with the structure of the heart and it is present at birth. Congenital heart defects are the most common type of major birth defect. A baby's heart begins to develop shortly after conception. During development, structural defects can occur. These defects can involve the walls of the heart, the valves of the heart and the arteries and veins near the heart. Congenital heart defects can disrupt the normal flow of blood through the heart. The blood flow can: slow down, go in the wrong direction or the wrong place, or it can be blocked completely.
Treatment for the defect can include medicines, surgery and other medical procedures and heart transplants. The treatment depends on the type and severity of the defect and a child's age, size and general health. Today, many children born with complex heart defects grow to adulthood and lead productive lives.
There are many different types of congenital heart defects and more than one defect may be present at the same time.
- Atrial septal defect (ASD) means that there is a hole located between the upper chambers of the heart (the right and left atria).
- Ventricular septal defect (VSD) is a hole in the part of the septum that separates the lower chambers of the heart (the ventricles).
- Atrioventricular canal defect means there is a large hole in the septum.
- Patent ductus arteriosus is a defect in which the temporary blood vessel connecting the left pulmonary artery to the aorta in the fetal heart fails to close after birth.
- Aortic Stenosis is a narrowing of the aortic valve, which is the valve that lets blood flow from the lower-left chamber (the left ventricle) to all parts of the body.
- Pulmonary Stenosis is a narrowing of the valve that lets blood flow from the lower-right chamber (the right ventricle) into the lungs.
- Ebstein's anomaly is a defect that mainly affects the tricuspid valve. The tricuspid valve is the valve that controls blood flow between the heart's upper-right chamber (the right atrium) and lower-right chamber (the right ventricle).
- Tetralogy of Fallot is made up of 4 heart defects:
- A hole in the wall between the lower chambers (the ventricles
- A narrowed outlet to the pulmonary artery usually combined with an abnormal pulmonary valve.
- An aorta that straddles the wall (septum) between the lower chambers (the ventricles).
- Thickened and enlarged heart muscle tissue in the lower-right chamber (the right ventricle).
- Transposition of the great arteries: the normal position of the arteries is reversed.
- Persistent truncus arteriosus: there is a large hole in the septum between the two ventricles (called a ventricular septal defect).
- Tricuspid atresia: the valve is missing between the upper-right chamber (the right atrium) and the lower-right chamber (the right ventricle).
- Pulmonary atresia: the valve that lets blood flow from the lower-right chamber (the right ventricle) to the lungs has not formed or is closed.
- Hypoplastic left heart syndrome is the most common cause of death from heart disease during the first week of life.
Expert in Congenital Heart Disease? DSES is always looking for volunteers to help teach or give presentations!!
Resources and Additional Information
National Institute of Health: www.nlm.nih.gov
Congenital Heart Information Network: tchin.org
Texas Heart Institute: www.texasheartinstitute.org
