Congenital Heart Disease
What is Congenital Heart Disease?
Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a type of heart defect that is present at birth. A heart defect is a problem with the structure of the heart and how it works. It is the most common type of birth defect, affecting approximately 8 out of every 1,000 newborns in the United States.
Types of Congenital Heart Disease
There are a variety of types of CHD, including:
• Atrial and ventricular septal defects: These are holes in the dividing walls between the upper and lower chambers of the heart.
• Coarctation of the aorta: This is a narrowing of the aorta, the main blood vessel that leaves the heart.
• Tetralogy of Fallot: This is an abnormality of the heart's structure that includes four different defects.
• Transposition of the great arteries: This is a defect that causes the two major arteries of the heart to be switched.
Most Common Congenital Heart Disease
The most common type of CHD is a ventricular septal defect (VSD). A VSD is a hole in the wall that separates the two lower chambers of the heart. It can vary in size and location. VSDs can occur in isolation or in combination with other defects. They can range from mild to severe and can cause shortness of breath, fatigue, and poor feeding. Treatment may include medications, surgery, or a combination of both.
Other common CHDs include atrial septal defects (ASDs), patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), coarctation of the aorta (CoA), and tetralogy of Fallot (ToF). ASDs are holes in the wall that separates the two upper chambers of the heart. PDA is a connection between the aorta and the pulmonary artery that normally closes shortly after birth. CoA is a narrowing of the aorta and ToF is a combination of four different defects.
Conclusion
Congenital heart disease is a type of heart defect that is present at birth and is the most common type of birth defect. The most common type of CHD is a ventricular septal defect, but other common types include atrial septal defects, patent ductus arteriosus, coarctation of the aorta, and tetralogy of Fallot. Treatment for CHD can include medications, surgery, or a combination of both.