Medication
Care and Treatment for Congenital Heart Defects. Not everyone with a congenital heart defect (CHD) requires treatment. Some people may only need to visit a cardiologist and stay under observation. In other cases, surgery or a cardiac catheterization may be needed to reduce the effects of the heart defect, or to repair the defect.
Procedures
Some children with congenital heart defects require multiple procedures and surgeries throughout life. Although the outcomes for children with heart defects have improved dramatically, most people, except those with very simple defects, will require ongoing care, even after corrective surgery.
See more
The most common congenital heart defect is a bicuspid aortic valve (BAV). The aortic valve opens and shuts to allow blood flow from the heart to the aorta. The aorta is the major blood vessel bringing oxygen-rich blood to the body. This defect occurs when there are only two leaflets instead of three within the valve.
What is the treatment for a congenital heart defect?
About 1 in 4 babies born with a heart defect has a critical CHD (also known as critical congenital heart disease). Babies with a critical CHD need surgery or other procedures in the first year of life. Piper was born with a congenital heart defect (CHD).
Do children with congenital heart defects require ongoing care?
What is the most common congenital heart defect?
What is a critical congenital heart disease?
Is there any treatment for congenital heart defect?
Many children with congenital heart defects don't need treatment, but others do. Treatment can include medicines, catheter procedures, surgery, and heart transplants. The treatment depends on the type of the defect, how severe it is, and a child's age, size, and general health.
What is the most common congenital defect of the heart?
The most common type of heart defect is a ventricular septal defect (VSD).
What is the medication for congenital heart disease?
ACE Inhibitors and Angiotensin Receptor Blockers ACE inhibitors and Angiotensin-2 Receptor Blockers (ARB) are used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) and congestive heart failure. Examples of ACE Inhibitors: captopril (Capoten) enalapril (Vasotec)
Can a cardiologist treat congenital heart defect?
If you have a congenital heart defect, make an appointment with a doctor trained in diagnosing and treating heart conditions (cardiologist) for follow-up care, even if you haven't developed complications.
How long can you live with congenital heart defect?
Results: Patients with CHD expected to live to age 75 +/- 11 years, only 4 years less than their healthy peers. Over 85% of patients expected to live longer than our estimates of their life expectancy. Poorer health status and higher perceived risk of CHD complications related to shorter perceived life expectancy.
What causes congenital heart defects in fetus?
What causes a congenital heart defect (CHD)? A congenital heart defect (CHD) is a heart problem that a baby has at birth. It is caused by abnormal formation of the heart during growth in the womb. In most cases, when a baby is born with a congenital heart defect, there is no known reason for it.
Which drug is an antiarrhythmic?
The most common medications in this class are: amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone) flecainide (Tambocor) ibutilide (Corvert), which can only be given through IV.
How is congenital heart defect diagnosed?
Tests to diagnose a congenital heart defect include:Pulse oximetry. A sensor placed on the fingertip records the amount of oxygen in the blood. ... Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG). ... Echocardiogram. ... Chest X-ray. ... Cardiac catheterization. ... Heart magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
What are the two types of congenital heart disease?
Types of congenital heart defects include: aortic stenosis. atrial septal defect (ASD)
Can ECG detect heart defects?
An ECG done while you're having symptoms can help your health care provider determine whether reduced blood flow to the heart muscle is causing the chest pain. Heart structure changes. An ECG can provide clues about an enlarged heart, heart defects and other heart problems.
How do doctors treat congenital heart defects?
Depending on the type of heart defect your child has, doctors treat congenital heart defects with: Procedures using catheterization.
How to help a child with congenital heart disease?
Encourage your child to keep his or her doctor informed about the heart defect and the procedures performed to treat the problem. Exercise restrictions. Parents of children with congenital heart defects may worry about the risks of rough play and activity even after treatment.
What is the difference between an echocardiogram and an electrocardiogram?
An echocardiogram allows the doctor to see your child's heart in motion and to identify abnormalities in the heart muscle and valves. Electrocardiogram. This noninvasive test records the electrical activity of your child's heart and can help diagnose heart defects or rhythm problems.
Why is a catheterization necessary?
Catheterization is sometimes necessary because it may give your child's doctor a much more detailed view of your child's heart defect than an echocardiogram.
Why do some children have congenital heart defects?
Because some children who have congenital heart defects may have had a long recovery time from surgeries or procedures, their development may lag behind that of other children their age. Some children's difficulties may last into their school years, and they may have difficulties learning to read or write, as well.
What test is done to determine if a child has a heart defect?
In addition to a regular physical exam, these could include: Fetal echocardiogram. This test allows your doctor to see if your child has a heart defect before he or she is born, allowing your doctor to better plan treatment. In this test, your doctor performs an ultrasound.
What does it mean when a child's heart murmurs?
A heart murmur is a sound that occurs when blood flows through the heart or blood vessels fast enough to make a sound that a doctor can hear with a stethoscope. Most heart murmurs are innocent, meaning that there is no heart defect and the murmur isn't dangerous to your child's health. Some murmurs, however, may mean blood is flowing ...
What is a congenital heart defect?
What are Congenital Heart Defects? Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are the most common type of birth defect. As medical care and treatment have advanced, babies with a CHD are living longer and healthier lives. Learn more facts about CHDs below.
Why do babies have heart defects?
Some babies have heart defects because of changes in their individual genes or chromosomes. CHDs also are thought to be caused by a combination of genes and other factors, such as things in the environment, the mother’s diet, the mother’s health conditions, or the mother’s medication use during pregnancy.
How many babies have a CHD?
CHDs can vary from mild (such as a small hole in the heart) to severe (such as missing or poorly formed parts of the heart). About 1 in 4 babies born with a heart defect has a critical CHD (also known as critical congenital heart defect). 1 Babies with a critical CHD need surgery or other procedures in the first year of life.
How to treat a CHD?
Some affected infants and children might need one or more surgeries to repair the heart or blood vessels. Some can be treated without surgery using a procedure called cardiac catheterization. A long tube, called a catheter, is threaded through the blood vessels into the heart, where a doctor can take measurements and pictures, do tests, or repair the problem. Sometimes the heart defect can’t be fully repaired, but these procedures can improve blood flow and the way the heart works. It is important to note that even if their heart defect has been repaired, many people with CHDs are not cured. See more information about living with a CHD below.
Can a heart defect be repaired?
Sometimes the heart defect can’t be fully repaired, but these procedures can improve blood flow and the way the heart works. It is important to note that even if their heart defect has been repaired, many people with CHDs are not cured. See more information about living with a CHD below.
What is congenital heart disease?
Congenital heart disease is an abnormality or structural problem of the heart or circulatory system that an infant is born with. Congenital heart defects can involve the walls of the heart, the valves and the arteries, or veins near the heart. These defects occur during fetal development, and some can be detected while fetuses are still in ...
How many babies are affected by congenital heart defects?
Congenital heart defects are the most common type of birth defect, affecting about 1 in 100 babies in the U.S. Thanks to advances to treatment, the future for children living with CHD is encouraging. Learn more from @Childrens. Click to Tweet.
Why does the aortic valve shut off?
The aortic valve opens and shuts to allow blood flow from the heart to the aorta. The aorta is the major blood vessel bringing oxygen-rich blood to the body. This defect occurs when there are only two leaflets instead of three within the valve.
What is the heart center?
The Heart Center at Children's Health, including Pediatric Heart Specialists, provides expert diagnosis and effective treatment for the full spectrum of pediatric heart conditions so that children can have healthy childhoods. Learn more about how we care for congenital heart defects at the Heart Center.
How many children are living with congenital heart disease?
There are approximately 3 million children and adults living with congenital heart disease.
How many babies are born with heart defects?
Congenital heart defects are the most common type of birth defect, affecting approximately 1 in every 100 babies born in the U.S. Out of the about 40,000 babies born with a heart defect each year, approximately 7,200 have a critical congenital heart defect which requires surgery or a procedure in their first year of life.
How to tell if a baby has a heart defect?
Other types of heart defects are detected at birth if a baby is born with symptoms like blue coloring or through a simple screening. "By measuring oxygen saturation in a baby's blood, we can get another vital sign that a baby has a congenital heart disease that is not immediately obvious," explains Dr. Day.
What percentage of congenital heart defects are born into adulthood?
More than 90 percent of infants born with a congenital heart defect live into adulthood in the current era, Van Bergen says. Here are eight of the most common types of congenital heart defects: 1. Ventricular septal defect. Ventricular septal defect occurs in 2 to 7 percent of all live births and accounts for about 20 percent ...
How many babies are born with congenital heart disease?
Congenital heart defects are the most common type of birth disorders in the United States, affecting nearly 1 percent of the annual births in the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 40,000 babies are born with congenital heart disease annually; about a third of them will need surgery or other types ...
What is the PDA in the heart?
6. Patent ductus arteriosus. Patent ductus arteriosus, or PDA, is a persistent connection between the aortic arch – the part of the main artery that bends between the ascending and descending aorta, creating an arch – and the pulmonary artery in the fetus. PDA is a fairly common congenital heart defect, Bacha says.
What is the name of the hole in the heart?
2. Atrial septal defect. Atrial septal defect is another common congenital heart defect. This condition is an abnormal hole between the upper two chambers of the heart, in the area known as the atria.
Why is my heart valve leaking?
Such increased pressure causes the muscle to become thickened, which isn't good for a heart over time. In addition, there is often leakiness of the valve due to the stiffer leaflets not coming together well. A leaky valve can cause the heart to dilate or enlarge, which is unhealthy for the heart.
How much oxygen is needed for a newborn?
Infants with this condition often have oxygen levels between 70 to 85 percent during their first 24 hours of life. Treatment.
When do babies need surgery for TOF?
All cases of TOF require surgical repair; the only difference is timing, Bacha says. In most cases treated in the United States and the rest of the developed world, surgery is conducted when the infant is about six months old, he says. Treatment. Infants with TOF must have surgery at some point.
Diagnosis
Treatment
Clinical Trials
Lifestyle and Home Remedies
Specialist to consult
Coping and Support
Preparing For Your Appointment
What Are Congenital Heart Defects (Chds)?
- Explore Mayo Clinic studiestesting new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition.
Types
- If your child has a congenital heart defect, lifestyle changes may be recommended to keep the heart healthy and prevent complications.
Signs and Symptoms
- You may find that talking with other people who've experienced the same situation brings you comfort and encouragement. Ask your health care provider if there are any support groups in your area. Living with a congenital heart defect can make some children feel stressed or anxious. Talking to a therapist or counselor may help you and your child lea...
Diagnosis
- If your child has a life-threatening heart defect, it will likely be diagnosed soon after birth, or possibly before birth during a pregnancy ultrasound. If you think your child has a heart defect that wasn't recognized at birth, talk to your child's health care provider. Be prepared to describe your child's symptoms and provide a family medical history, since some congenital heart defects ten…
Treatment
Causes
- Listed below are examples of different types of CHDs. The types marked with a star (*) are considered critical CHDs. 1. Atrial Septal Defect 2. Atrioventricular Septal Defect 3. Coarctation of the Aorta* 4. Double-outlet Right Ventricle* 5. d-Transposition of the Great Arteries* 6. Ebstein Anomaly* 7. Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome* 8. Interrupted Aortic Arch* 9. Pulmonary Atresia…
Living with A Chd
- Signs and symptoms for CHDs depend on the type and severity of the particular defect. Some defects might have few or no signs or symptoms. Others might cause a baby to have the following symptoms: 1. Blue-tinted nails or lips 2. Fast or troubled breathing 3. Tiredness when feeding 4. Sleepiness
References
- Some CHDs may be diagnosed during pregnancy using a special type of ultrasound called a fetal echocardiogram, which creates ultrasound pictures of the heart of the developing baby. However, some CHDs are not detected until after birth or later in life, during childhood or adulthood. If a healthcare provider suspects a CHD may be present, the baby can get several tests (such as an …