Congenital Heart Defects Flashcards
Coarctation of the aorta occurs when a baby’s aorta doesn’t form correctly as the baby develops during pregnancy. The aorta is tube that carries oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the rest of the body. Babies with this condition have a part of their aorta that is narrower than usual.
The narrowing, or coarctation, blocks normal blood flow to the body. This can back up flow into the left ventricle of the heart. As a result, the muscles in this ventricle work harder to get blood out of the heart.
If the narrowing is severe enough and it is not diagnosed, the baby may have serious problems soon after birth. For this reason, coarctation of the aorta is considered a critical congenital heart defect (critical CHD).
tetralogy of fallot
four defects of the heart and its blood vessels:
A hole in the wall between the two lower chambers, or ventricles, of the heart. This condition also is called a Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD).
A narrowing of the pulmonary valve and main pulmonary artery. This condition also is called pulmonary stenosis.
The aortic valve, which leads to the aorta, is enlarged and receives blood from both ventricles. In a normal heart, it only receives blood from the left ventricle. In this defect, the aortic valve sits directly on top of the VSD.
The muscular wall of the lower right chamber of the heart (right ventricle) is thicker than normal. This also is called ventricular hypertrophy.
Because a baby with Tetralogy of Fallot may need surgery or other procedures soon after birth, this condition is considered a critical congenital heart defect (critical CHD).
Dextro-Transposition (pronounced DECKS-tro trans-poh-ZI-shun) of the Great Arteries or d-TGA is one type of congenital heart defect. Congenital means present at birth.
This condition occurs when the heart’s two main arteries carrying blood out of the heart are switched in position, or “transposed.”
Surgical repairs for d-TGA are not a cure. People with d-TGA should schedule routine checkups with a heart doctor to stay as healthy as possible.
d-TGA happens when the main pulmonary artery and the aorta are switched in position, or “transposed.” The main pulmonary artery and the aorta are the two main arteries that carry blood out of the heart.
In babies with d-TGA, oxygen-poor blood from the body enters the right side of the heart. But, instead of going to the lungs, the blood is pumped back out to the body through the aorta. Oxygen-rich blood from the lungs entering the heart is pumped straight back to the lungs through the main pulmonary artery.
Often, babies with d-TGA have other heart defects, such as a ventricular septal defect (VSD) or an atrial septal defect (ASD). These defects allow blood to mix so that some oxygen-rich blood can be pumped to the rest of the body. The patent ductus arteriosus (labeled PDA in the image) also allows some oxygen-rich blood to be pumped to the rest of the body.
Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS)
HLHS affects a number of structures on the left side of the heart that do not fully develop:
The left ventricle is underdeveloped and too small
The mitral valve is not formed or is very small
The aortic valve is not formed or is very small
The ascending portion of the aorta is underdeveloped or is too small
Often, babies with HLHS also have an atrial septal defect, a hole between the upper chambers (atria) of the heart.
How it works
During pregnancy, a fetus has two small openings between the left and right sides of the heart. These openings are called the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA in image above) and the foramen ovale. These openings in the heart usually close a few days after birth.
In babies with HLHS, the left side of the heart cannot pump oxygen-rich blood to the body properly. During the first few days of life, the oxygen-rich blood bypasses the poorly functioning left side of the heart through the patent ductus arteriosus and the foramen ovale. The right side of the heart then pumps blood to both the lungs and the rest of the body. However, for babies with HLHS, when these openings close, it becomes hard for oxygen-rich blood to get to the rest of the body.
HLHS occurs when the left side of the heart does not form correctly during pregnancy. HLHS affects normal blood flow through the heart. A baby born with HLHS will need surgery soon after birth. HLHS is considered a critical congenital heart defect (critical CHD).
Pulmonary Atresia
Pulmonary atresia (pronounced PULL-mun-airy ah-TREE-sha) is a congenital heart defect. Congenital means present at birth.
It occurs when the valve that controls blood flow from the heart to the lungs doesn’t form at all.
People with pulmonary atresia should schedule routine checkups with a heart doctor throughout their lives to stay as healthy as possible.
