Congenital heart defect

A structural abnormality of the heart or great vessels that is present at birth. It ranges from small defects that close spontaneously to conditions requiring surgery or lifelong care.

Heart: A muscular organ that pumps blood through the pulmonary and systemic circulations. Its chambers, valves, and vessels are the structures altered by congenital defects.
Left-to-right shunt: Abnormal blood flow from the heart's higher-pressure left side to its lower-pressure right side. Many septal defects initially send extra blood toward the lungs this way.
Echocardiography: Ultrasound imaging that shows heart structure, motion, and blood flow. It is the principal test for defining many congenital structural abnormalities.
Ventricular septal defect: An opening in the wall between the heart's right and left ventricles. It is a common defect whose effects depend strongly on its size and location.
Adult congenital heart disease: The field and patient population concerned with congenital heart conditions in adulthood, whether repaired or unrepaired. Improved survival means many affected children now need specialized care throughout adulthood.
Fetal circulation: The prenatal pattern of blood flow, in which the placenta supplies oxygen and fetal shunts bypass the lungs. Its temporary openings normally change or close after birth, revealing some defects.
Right-to-left shunt: Abnormal blood flow from the right side of the heart into the left side, bypassing the lungs. Some defects allow oxygen-poor blood to enter systemic circulation and cause cyanosis.
Fetal echocardiography: Ultrasound examination of a fetus's heart, usually performed during pregnancy when a defect is suspected. It can identify certain defects before birth and guide delivery planning.
Atrial septal defect: An opening in the wall between the heart's two upper chambers. It often causes a left-to-right shunt and may remain undetected until adulthood.
Transition of care: The planned process of moving adolescents with chronic conditions from pediatric to adult health services. Patients with congenital defects benefit from a deliberate transfer to adult cardiac care.

Linked from 34 pages