If you’ve ever wondered what is a congenital heart disease, you are not alone. Congenital heart defects occur during the early stages of development and affect a wide variety of people. While the most common are the ventricular septal defect (VSD), pulmonary atresia and the ductus arteriosus, other conditions are rarer.
Pulmonary atresia
Pulmonary atresia is a congenital heart defect that occurs during the first eight weeks of fetal development. It’s caused by an abnormal development of the pulmonary valve. If it doesn’t develop properly, blood can’t get into the lungs. This can cause low oxygen levels in the body and make it difficult for the child to breathe.
The condition can be diagnosed in pregnancy or during a fetal echocardiogram. Once diagnosed, the baby will likely be placed in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to monitor the oxygen level in the baby’s blood and keep an eye on its breathing.
Children with pulmonary atresia often need to go through several surgeries to help improve blood flow to the lungs. These treatments may include placing a shunt from the aorta to the pulmonary artery. Other options include placing an intravenous catheter. An IV catheter is a plastic tube that is inserted through the skin into a blood vessel.
Ventricular septal defect
There are many different types of congenital heart disease, but one of the most common is a ventricular septal defect. These defects are holes in the wall of the heart between the left and right ventricles. Some of these are small, and may not cause any problems, but others can lead to more serious problems.
A ventricular septal defect can be detected by an extra heart sound, such as a murmur, or a chest x-ray. Usually, these defects close on their own, but some babies with moderate or large defects will need a monitor for their health.
When the hole is larger than a few millimeters, it can be dangerous. This can prevent the left ventricle from pumping enough blood to the lungs, which can cause severe heart failure. Over time, the pressure in the lungs can become too high, causing irreversible damage. The heart will work harder to pump out the excess blood, increasing the risk of heart arrhythmia, stroke, and pulmonary hypertension.
Truncus arteriosus
Truncus arteriosus is a rare congenital heart disease. It occurs in only one in every 33,000 births in the United States. When left untreated, 85% of babies who are born with this defect die within the first year of life.
In most cases, truncus arteriosus is caused by viral illnesses in early pregnancy. If you have a family history of heart defects, it is important to get tested for truncus arteriosus before you have your child.
Children with truncus arteriosus may have a hole in their heart between their right and left ventricles. This allows blood to mix, increasing the amount of oxygen delivered to the body.
The extra blood from the truncal artery goes to the lungs. This can cause pulmonary hypertension, or high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs. As your baby grows, this pressure can grow worse and become a major problem.
Symptoms of truncus arteriosus include wheezing and fast breathing. A child who is born with this defect will also be very clammy and sweaty. They may have a rapid heartbeat and blue skin and lips.
Ductus arteriosus
Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a congenital heart defect that occurs in babies. It happens when the opening between the pulmonary artery and the aorta does not close properly after birth. This opens up too much blood flow in the lungs, which strains the heart and may cause pulmonary hypertension.
PDA is the most common heart defect in babies born before the age of 24 weeks. If left untreated, it usually causes pulmonary hypertension, or high blood pressure in the lungs. Fortunately, most of these babies do not have to live with a life-threatening condition.
Depending on the size of the PDA, it can cause problems. Some babies with PDA need surgery to correct the defect. Others do not need treatment. However, it is important to diagnose the defect as soon as possible.
Symptoms of PDA are not noticeable at birth. Instead, they develop later in the first year of life. Depending on the size of the defect, a baby’s heart may enlarge. The enlarged heart can strain the heart, which can affect other organs.
