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Congenital Heart Defect

What is Congenital Heart Defect ?
A congenital heart defect is a problem with the formation of the heart. Congenital heart defects range in severity from a small hold between chambers of the heart that will close on its own to severe defects that require surgical repair.

What are the causes?

• About 28 days after conception the heart tube begins to fold in order to create four chambers that will pump blood. Heart defects begin to develop at this time. It is unclear what causes congenital heart defects but medications, medical conditions and genetics may play a role.

Symptoms of Congenital Heart Defect include:

• Loss of healthy skin color
• Cyanosis (pale gray or blue coloring of the skin)
• Swelling in legs, abdomen or around the eyes
• Shortness of breath during feedings that leads to poor weight gain *These symptoms develop within the first few hours, days and weeks of life.

Additional symptoms include:

• Shortness of breath that occurs easily during exercise or activity
• Becoming tired easily during exercise or activity
• Fluid in the heart or lungs
• Swelling in the hands, ankles or feet *These symptoms develop later in childhood (age 3 or older).

Treatments for Congenital Heart Defect:

• Sometimes, no treatment is necessary and defects are not even detected until adulthood
• Catheter procedures – repair of the heart without opening the chest and heart. A small catheter (tube) is inserted into a vein that leads to the heart. Then, tools can be inserted into the catheter to repair the heart.
• Open heart surgery – if the repair cannot be done with a catheter. This usually involves a longer recovery period for your child.
• Heart transplant – if the defect cannot be repaired, a heart transplant may be necessary.
• Medications to help the heart work more efficiently
• Long-term treatment – some children will require multiple procedures and surgeries throughout their lifetimes.

What can I do?

• Ask your doctor about exercise restrictions for your child. Understand that your child may have developmental or emotional difficulties associated with his or her condition. Provide support for your child and consider joining a support group yourself. Continue to monitor your child’s condition into adulthood. Communicate with your child’s doctor about any changes in your child’s health.