change text size
Congenital heart diseaseCongenital means existing at birth. A congenital heart defect happens when the heart or the blood vessels near the heart don't develop normally before birth. Congenital heart defects are present in about 1% of live births and are the most frequent congenital malformations in newborns. In most cases, we don't know why they happen. Some causes include viral infections, certain conditions such as Down Syndrome, and drug abuse during pregnancy, (alcohol, cocaine). Treatments for congenital heart defects have come a long way. Today, most children grow up to lead full, active lives. TypesThere are many types of congenital heart defects. To help you understand more about them, you will probably need to refer to the anatomy of the heart Obstruction of blood flow (stenosis)A narrowing or obstruction that partly or completely blocks the flow of blood. Obstructions can occur in heart valves, arteries or veins. The three most common forms are:Pulmonary stenosis Aortic stenosis Coarctation of the aorta Septal defects (holes in the heart)When a baby is born with an opening between the wall (the septum) that separates the right and left sides of the heart, blood flows between the right and left chambers of the heart instead of flowing normally to the rest of the body This may cause the heart to become enlarged This defect is commonly referred to as a "hole in the heart." The two most common forms are:Atrial septal defect Ventricular septal defect Patent ductus arteriosus Cyanotic defectsIn these defects, blood pumped to the body contains less-than-normal amounts of oxygen called cyanosis a blue discoloration of the skin caused by low oxygen content in the blood. The term " blue babies" is often applied to infants with cyanosis.Tetralogy of fallot
Transposition of the great arteries Ebstein's anomaly SymptomsThe most common signs and symptoms of congenital heart defects are:
How is congenital heart disease diagnosed?A heart defect may be discovered during pregnancy, after birth or in adulthood, when the body puts greater demands on the heart. If a heart defect is suspected, your child will be referred to a pediatric cardiologist who will take a family and medical history, do a physical examination, and order tests, which may include: Electrocardiogram (ECG/ EKG) TreatmentMost congenital heart defects can be treated with medication or surgery. MedicationHere are the kinds of medication that may be used to help treat heart defects.ACE inhibitors Inotropes strengthen the heart's ability to pump. Prostaglandin E1 is used to keep the ductus arteriosus open in children who have a defect called patent ductus arteriosus until corrective surgery can be performed. This improves blood flow and oxygen levels until the defect is corrected. Medication is also often needed after surgery. They may include:
In the first six months after surgery, antibiotics may be recommended before dental work or other invasive procedures to prevent infection of the heart (endocarditis). Speak to your doctor or dentist about antibiotics before dental work. Surgery and other proceduresHeart transplant is a procedure in which the defective heart is replaced by a healthy donor heart. Non-surgical proceduresIn many cases, the strain to the heart requires procedures that either fix holes between the chambers, replace valves or repair or reconnect major blood vessels. Several can be used to repair and correct congenital heart defects They may include:Cardiac catheterization is often used to repair simple holes in the heart. A catheter (thin tube) is inserted into a blood vessel in the groin or arm and guided to the heart so that a surgeon can insert a plug inside the hole to repair it. Angioplasty is used to repair defective cardiac valves that can be either too narrow or leaky. A tiny balloon is guided to the heart inside a catheter (a thin tube). When the balloon is inflated, it can stretch the opening of a narrowed heart valve and restore normal blood flow. It is removed once blood flow returns. For more information, go to the Other Resources section for the publication called Heart & Soul: Your Guide to Living with Congenital Heart Disease (PDF) |