Seven Critical Congenital Heart Defects
Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are structural problems with the heart that are present at birth. They occur when the heart or the blood vessels near it don’t form properly during pregnancy. The seven most critical CHDs are:
Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS): HLHS is a rare condition in which the left side of the heart is severely underdeveloped. This affects the heart’s ability to pump enough blood to the body.
Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF): TOF is a form of CHD in which there are four abnormalities in the heart structure. These include a hole between the two lower chambers (ventricles) of the heart, narrowing of the pulmonary valve, a thickened muscular wall between the two ventricles, and an aorta that is shifted over the hole in the ventricles.
Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA): TGA is a condition in which the two main arteries leaving the heart, the pulmonary artery and the aorta, are switched in position. This can cause oxygen-poor blood to circulate throughout the body, leading to serious complications.
Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return (TAPVR): TAPVR is a condition in which the veins that carry oxygen-poor blood from the lungs to the heart are abnormally connected. This can lead to a shortage of oxygenated blood in the body.
Truncus Arteriosus: Truncus arteriosus is a rare condition in which the two major arteries leaving the heart, the pulmonary artery and the aorta, are connected by a single large artery. This can lead to a shortage of oxygenated blood in the body.
Pulmonary Atresia: Pulmonary atresia is a condition in which the pulmonary valve, which controls the flow of blood from the heart to the lungs, is underdeveloped or absent. This can lead to a shortage of oxygenated blood in the body.
Coarctation of the Aorta: Coarctation of the aorta is a condition in which the aorta, the major artery carrying oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the body, is narrowed. This restricts the blood flow to the body, leading to a shortage of oxygenated blood.