Download Congenital Heart Defects

CONGENITAL HEART DEFECTS
By: Victoria Lund
WHAT ARE CONGENITAL HEART DEFECTS?
They are problems with the heart that are
present at birth.
 They affect the flow of blood through the heart.
 Defects can range from no symptoms to life
threatening

TYPES
 Holes

in the heart (septal defects)
Atrial Septal Defect
Little to no symptoms
 Heals on it’s own, or with a catheter


Ventricular Septal Defect
Small VSD’s have no problems and heal on their own
 Larger VSD’s can cause the left ventricle to work too hard
and may result in heart failure.
 Open heart surgery is used to repair.

TYPES

Narrowed Valves

Stenosis
Pulmonary Valve Stenosis is most common.
 May cause Heart Murmur
 Flaps of the valve thicken, and the valve cannot fully open


Atresia


Valve lacks a hole for blood to pass through
Regurgitation

Valve does not close completely
TYPES

Complex Congenital Heart Defect
Repaired with surgery
 Most common is Tetralogy of Fallot, a combination of
four defects

A large VSD
 Pulmonary Valve Stenosis
 Overriding aorta
 Aorta is over left and right ventricle, causing oxygen poor
blood to flow into the aorta
 Right Ventricular Hypertrophy
 Muscle of right ventricle is thicker

CAUSES
 Heredity
 Genetic
Down
Disorders
Syndrome
 Smoking
during pregnancy
SYMPTOMS
Rapid breathing
 Cyanosis (a bluish tint to the skin, lips, and
fingernails)
 Fatigue (tiredness)
 Poor blood circulation
