Congenital heart disease (patient information)

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Associate Editor-In-Chief: Keri Shafer, M.D. [2], :Atif Mohammad, M.D., Priyamvada Singh, MBBS

What is Congenital heart disease?

Congenital heart disease refers to a problem with the heart's structure and function due to abnormal heart development before birth.

What are the symptoms of Congenital heart disease?

Symptoms depend on the specific condition. While congenital heart disease is present at birth, the symptoms may not be immediately obvious for e.g. coarctation of the aorta may not cause problems for many years. Also, a small ventricular septal defect (VSD), may never cause any problems, and some people with a VSD have normal physical activity and a normal life span.

What causes Congenital heart disease?

Congenital heart disease is often divided into two types: cyanotic (blue discoloration caused by a relative lack of oxygen) and non-cyanotic. The common causes of congenital heart diseases are-

Cyanotic:

• Tetralogy of Fallot
• Transposition of the great vessels
• Tricuspid atresia
• Total anomalous pulmonary venous return
• Truncus arteriosus
• Hypoplastic left heart
• Pulmonary atresia
• Some forms of total anomalous pulmonary venous return
• Ebstein's anomaly

Non-cyanotic:

• Ventricular septal defect (VSD)
• Atrial septal defect (ASD)
• Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)
• Aortic stenosis
• Pulmonic stenosis
• Coarctation of the aorta
• Atrioventricular canal (endocardial cushion defect)

These problems may occur alone or together. The majority of congenital heart diseases occurs as an isolated defect and is not associated with other diseases. However, they can also be a part of various genetic and chromosomal syndromes such as Down syndrome, trisomy 13, Turner syndrome, Marfan syndrome, Noonan syndrome, and DiGeorge syndrome. Drugs such as retinoic acid for acne, chemicals, alcohol, and infections (such as rubella) during pregnancy can contribute to some congenital heart problems.

Possible Complications?

Complications depend on the specific condition and treatment.

Exams and Tests

• The health care provider will take a careful history and perform a complete physical examination primarily focusing on the examination of heart.

Tests:

• Ultrasound in case of pregnant women, Echocardiography(ultrasound of heart)for children and adults.

Treatment options

Treatment depends on the specific condition. Some congenital heart diseases can be treated with medication alone, while others require one or more surgeries.

When to Contact a Medical Professional?

Call your health care provider if you suspect that your child has a heart problem.

Outlook (Prognosis)

How well a patient does depends on the specific defect.

Prevention

Care during pregnancy

• Avoid alcohol and other drugs during pregnancy. Doctors should be made aware that a woman is pregnant before prescribing any medications for her. A blood test should be done early in the pregnancy to see if the woman is immune to rubella. If the female is not immune, she must avoid any possible exposure to rubella and should be immunized immediately following delivery.

• Proper control of Diabetes in pregnant females (as diabetes during pregnancy is a risk factor for developing congenital heart disease)

• Some prescription, over-the-counter medications and street drugs used during pregnancy increase the risk of heart defects.

• Genetics does appear to play a role in many diseases, and multiple family members may be affected. Talk to your health care provider about screening.

• Expectant mothers should receive good prenatal care. Many congenital defects can be discovered on routine ultrasound examinations performed by an obstetrician. The delivery can then be anticipated and the appropriate medical personnel (such as a pediatric cardiologist, a cardiothoracic surgeon, and a neonatologist) can be present, and ready to help as necessary. Such preparation can mean the difference between life and death for some babies.

Sources

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001114.htm

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