Congenital heart defects in children

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Slide show: Common types of congenital heart defects

By Mayo Clinic staff

 

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Illustration showing a healthy heart

Common congenital heart defects

Congenital heart defects are heart problems that develop before birth. They can occur in the heart's chambers, valves or blood vessels. A baby may be born with only one defect or several defects. Of the dozens of heart defects, some are mild and may need little or no medical treatment even through adulthood. Other types of congenital heart defects are life-threatening, either immediately to the newborn or over time. Here's a look at some of the more common congenital heart defects. Compare them to the normal human heart, shown here.

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References
  1. Congenital cardiovascular defects. American Heart Association. http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4565. Accessed Oct.10, 2008.
  2. Ventricular septal defect (VSD). American Heart Association. http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=11066. Accessed Oct. 10. 2008.
  3. Atrial septal defect (ASD). American Heart Association. http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=11065. Accessed Oct. 10, 2008.
  4. Patent ductus arteriosus. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/pda/pda_what.html. Accessed Oct. 10, 2008.
  5. Pulmonary valve stenosis. American Heart Association. http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=11070. Accessed Oct. 10, 2008.
  6. Aortic stenosis. Cincinnati Children's Hospital. http://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/health/heart-encyclopedia/anomalies/avs.htm. Accessed Oct. 10, 2008.
  7. Agarwala BN, et al. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of coarctation of the aorta. http://www.uptodate.com. Accessed Oct. 10, 2008.
  8. Transposition of the great arteries. American heart Association. http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=11074. Accessed Oct. 10, 2008.
  9. Tetralogy of Fallot. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/tof/tof_all.html. Accessed Oct. 10, 2008.
  10. Attenhofer Jost CH, et al. Ebstein's anomaly. Circulation. 2007;115(2):277-285.
  11. Atrioventricular canal defect. American Heart Association. http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=132. Accessed Oct. 10, 2008.
  12. Hypoplastic left heart syndrome. American Heart Association. http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1353. Accessed Oct. 10, 2008.
  13. Truncus arteriosus. American Heart Association. http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=11073 Accessed Oct. 10, 2008.

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Nov. 19, 2008

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