Congenital Heart Defects

 Type

Description

Aortic stenosis (AS)

“a narrowing of the aortic valve in the heart that causes it to open incompletely. This can reduce blood flow to the body” (NHLBI)

Atrial septal defect (ASD)

“a hole in the wall that separates the upper chambers (atria) of the heart. This causes blood to leak from one atrium to the other” (NHLBI)

Atrioventricular (A-V) canal defect

“A large hole in the center of the heart exists where the wall between the upper chambers joins the wall between the lower chambers.  Also, the tricuspid and mitral valves that normally separate the heart's upper and lower chambers aren't formed as individual valves.  Instead, a single large valve forms that crosses the defect.  The large opening in the center of the heart lets oxygen-rich (red) blood from the heart's left side – blood that's just gone through the lungs – pass into the heart's right side.  There, the oxygen-rich blood, along with venous (bluish) blood from the body, is sent back to the lungs.  The heart must pump an extra amount of blood and may enlarge.” (AHA)

Bicuspid aortic valve

“The normal aortic valve has three flaps (cusps) that open and close.  A bicuspid valve has only two flaps.  There may be no symptoms in childhood, but by adulthood (often middle age or older), the valve can become stenotic (narrowed), making it harder for blood to pass through it, or regurgitant (allowing blood to leak backward through it).” (AHA)

Coarctation of the aorta

“a narrowing of the aorta. It slows or blocks the flow of blood from the heart to the body” (NHLBI)

Patent ductus arteriosis  

“…allows blood to mix between the pulmonary artery and the aorta.  Before birth an open passageway (the ductus arteriosus) exists between these two blood vessels.  Normally this closes within a few hours of birth.  When this doesn't happen, some blood that should flow through the aorta and on to nourish the body returns to the lungs.” (AHA)

Pulmonary stenosis

“a narrowing of the pulmonary valve. The narrowing slows the flow of blood from the right side of the heart to the lungs. The heart must pump harder to push blood through the smaller opening” (NHLBI)

Subaortic stenosis

“…a narrowing of the left ventricle just below the aortic valve, which blood passes through to go into the aorta.  This stenosis limits the flow of blood out of the left ventricle.” (AHA)

Tetralogy of Fallot

“a combination of four defects:

• Pulmonary valve stenosis is the narrowing of the pulmonary valve. The narrowing slows the flow of blood from the right ventricle to the lungs

• VSD is a hole in the wall that separates the left and right ventricles

• Overriding aorta is a defect in which the aorta is positioned between the left and right ventricles, over the VSD

• Right ventricular hypertrophy is the thickening of the right ventricle. The thickening is caused by the heart having to work harder because of the other defects” (NHLBI)

Ventricular septal defect (VSD)

“a hole in the wall that separates the lower chambers (ventricles) of the heart. This causes blood to leak from one ventricle to the other” (NHLBI)