Congenital heart defect

A congenital heart defect is a problem with the structure of the heart. It is present at birth. Congenital heart defects are the most common type of major birth defect. Approximately 8 out of every 1,000 newborns have congenital heart defects, ranging from mild to severe. Congenital heart defects (CHD) are a frequent cause of death and disability and cause a significant toll in terms of personal distress and social costs.

Development

A baby's heart begins to develop shortly after conception. Congenital heart defects happen because of incomplete or abnormal development of the fetus' heart during the very early weeks of development. Down syndrome and Maternal Rubella have been implicated in a portion of these, but in a majority of cases, the etiology is unknown. The occurrence of maternal rubella during pregnancy is believed to be responsible for only approximately 5% of cases of congenital heart disease.

Types of CHD

There are many common distinct congenital heart defects.

• Aortic Stenosis: A condition in which the Aortic Valve has a narrowed opening.
• Atrial Septal Defect (ASD): A hole in the wall (called the septum) that separates the left atrium and the right atrium.
• Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA): A condition which can result in too much blood flow to a newborn's lungs, is common in premature babies.
• Pulmonary Atresia: The pulmonic valve does not open at all and may indeed be completely absent.
• Pulmonary Stenosis: Normally the pulmonary valve has three leaflets. If these leaflets are malformed, the valve may become narrowed (stenotic) or leaky (insufficient).
• Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF): It is the most common cyanotic heart defect and the most common cause of blue baby syndrome.
• Transposition of the Great Arteries: The aorta receives the oxygen-poor blood from the right ventricle, but it's carried back to the body without receiving more oxygen. Likewise, the pulmonary artery receives the oxygen-rich blood from the left ventricle but carries it back to the lungs.
• Tricuspid Atresia: In this condition, there's no tricuspid valve. As a result, the right ventricle is small and not fully developed.

Treatment

Treatment is dependent on the specific defect. Often surgery is required to correct gross vascular and cardiac malformations. Many are life-threatening and are medical emergencies. Often, after proper treatment, children born with CHD's can go on to lead productive lives.