Congenital Heart Defects

Question 1

What is a congenital heart defect?

Answer 1

Malformation of heart walls or valves; most common type of major birth defect**

Question 2

Types of Congenital Heart Defects (5)

Answer 2

1) Atrial Septal Defect (ASD)
2) Coarctation of the Aorta
3) Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)
4) Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD)
5) Tetralogy of Fallot

Question 3

Cause of Atrial Septal Defect (ASD)

Answer 3

Foramen Ovale (hole between left/right atrium developed to bypass blood flow to the lungs) fails to close resulting in L->R atrial bloodflow OR R–>L in severe cases

Question 4

Signs/Symptoms of ASD

Answer 4

• Smaller-mod ones may have no symptoms or may appear after 30 years old
• Large or long-standing ones: heart murmur, SOB (esp when exercising), fatigue, swelling of legs/feet/abdomen, heart palpitations, frequent lung infections, stroke, cyanosis*** (R–>L)

Question 5

ASD treatment

Answer 5

Surgical/non-surgical closure is recommended

Question 6

What is Coarctation of the Aorta?

Answer 6

The narrowing of the aorta near the ductus arteriosus

Usually occurs with other congenital heart defects

Question 7

What is the Ductus Arteriosus?

Answer 7

Shunts blood from the pulmonary artery directly to the descending aorta in utero to bypass developing lungs

Question 8

Signs/Symptoms of Coarctation of the Aorta (infants vs adults)

Answer 8

Infants: pale skin, sweating, SOB soon after birth
Adults: high BP in the arms but low BP in the legs, SOB during exercise, intermittent claudication, weakness, HA

Question 9

Treatment for Coarctation of the Aorta

Answer 9

Surgical repair or balloon angioplasty

Question 10

Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)

Answer 10

Ductus Arteriosus does not close after birth

Question 11

Signs/symptoms of PDA

Answer 11

Tachycardai, respiratory distress, poor eating, weight loss, and CHF

Question 12

Treatment of PDA (nonsurgical vs surgical)

Answer 12

nonsurgical: diuretics and idomethacin to reduce size of defect
surgical repair

Question 13

;What is Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD)?

Answer 13

Hole in the septum separating the right/left ventricles causing too much blood to be pumped into the lungs => heart failure

Question 14

Signs/symptoms of VSD

Answer 14

Cyanosis of skin/lips/fingernails**, poor eating/failure to thrive, breathlessness, fatigue, swelling of legs/feet/abdomen, tachycardia

Question 15

Treatment of VSD

Answer 15

Surgical patching or stitching

Question 16

What four heart defects make up a Tetraology of Fallot?

Answer 16

1) Ventricular Septal Defect
2) Pulmonary Stenosis
3) Right Ventricular Hypertrophy
4) Aorat overriding the septal defect

Question 17

Signs/symptoms of Tetralogy of Fallot

Answer 17

(Depends on obstruction of bloodflow from R ventricle)
Cyanosis of the skin, SOB/Rapid breathing esp during feeding, fainting, clubbing of fingers and toes**, poor weight gain, tiring easily, irratability/prolonged crying, heart murmur

Question 18

Treatment for Tetraology of Fallot

Answer 18

Surgical is the only effective treatment