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http://www.GlitterMaker.com/ - Glitter Graphics - MySpace Layouts - Pimp TextTHIS IS FOR ALL CHILDREN BORN WITH A CHD... HERE ARE SOME FACTS AND CLICKABLE LINKS TO CHD PAGES...http://www.chdawareness.org/Every year, 1 out of 100 infants in the United States is born with some form of congenital heart defects. During childhood, many more will be diagnosed.We hear so much about adult heart disease, and are rightly concerned with effective treatment. But how many people are aware that Congenital Heart Defects affects more than 40,000 infants in the U.S, one in every 100 children born each year? It strikes more children than any other childhood disease. We need to raise the level of awareness of Congenital Heart Defects.Congenital Heart Defects Inc. will provide information, resources, and support to families and individuals affected by congenital heart defects. We are comprised of families, medical professionals, and others involved in the care of children and adults affected by CHD.The CHDA Inc. is a partnership of parents and professionals who share the same goals of raising awareness, advancing research, promoting CHD education and supporting families.CHD is an anomaly of the heart that is present at birth. CHD’s cause one or more portions of the heart to develop abnormally. At least 35 distinct forms recognized. (There is no known cause for CHD, although genetics is the number one suspect)CHD is the # 1 birth defect and is the leading cause of birth-defect related deaths… (While it is the most common birth defect, it is the least publicized.)CHD strikes children without regard to economic level, ethnic origin, sex, geographic location or religious beliefs.40,000 infants are born with CHD each year in the U.S. (Still, newborns are not screened for CHD’s.)Some babies may be diagnosed before birth or at birth, some not until days, weeks, months or even years later. Sadly, too many are not diagnosed until after death.Undiagnosed CHD’s and Childhood Onset Heart Disease cause many cases of Sudden Cardiac Death in young athletes. (Despite these statistics, teen-aged athletes are not routinely screened for CHD’s.)There are 1.2 million children and adults with CHD alive today (CHD affects not only patients, but also entire families.)http://www.congenitalheartdefects.com/typesofCHD.h tml HERE ARE SOME TYPES OF CHD....
http://www.GlitterMaker.com/ - Glitter Graphics - MySpace Layouts - Graffiti Creator Aortic stenosis is a narrowing of the aortic valve or a narrowing of the aorta directly above (supravalvar) or below (subaortic) the aortic valve. Normally, oxygen-rich blood is pumped from the left ventricle, through the aortic valve, into the aorta and then out to the body. With aortic stenosis, it makes it very hard for the heart to pump blood to the body. Depending on the severity of the stenosis, open heart surgery may be needed to correct the defect. Another option may be a balloon valvuloplasty.Subaortic stenosis refers to 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. This condition may be congenital or may be due to a particular form of cardiomyopathy known as "idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis" (IHSS).Supravalvular aortic stenosis (SVAS) is a congenital narrowing of the ascending aorta which can occur as a congenital defect itself or as one component of Williams syndrome.Congenital aortic stenosis occurs in 3 to 6 percent of all children with congenital heart defects. Relatively few children are symptomatic in infancy, but the incidence of problems increases sharply in adulthood. Congenital aortic stenosis occurs four times more often in boys than in girls.
http://www.GlitterMaker.com/ - Glitter Graphics - MySpace Layouts - Glitter Graphics The septum is the wall that separates the right and left sides of the heart. A hole in the wall between the two upper chambers is called an atrial septal defect, or ASD. This is one of the least complex forms of congenital heart defect, and was one of the first types to be repaired surgically. Normally, low-oxygen blood entering the right side of the heart stays on the right side, and oxygen-rich blood stays on the left side of the heart, where it is then pumped to the body. When a defect or "hole" is present between the atria (or upper chambers), some oxygen-rich blood leaks back to the right side of the heart. It then goes back to the lungs even though it is already rich in oxygen. Because of this, there is a significant increase in the blood that goes to the lungs.There are three different kinds of ASDs. The most common form of ASD is the secundum defect which usually occurs as an isolated defect. The primum ASD is associated with a cleft in the mitral valve which may also causing the valve to leak. The third kind of ASD is the sinus venosus defect, located in the superior portion of the atrial septum and typically associated with abnormal drainage of the right upper pulmonary vein.Atrial septal defects can vary greatly in size. Some ASDs will close on their own and no surgery is needed. For a chart showing probability of spontaneous closure, see: Virtual Hospital: Surgery: Atrial Septal Defect . Some ASDs are closed in the catheterization lab and do not require open-heart surgery. Certain devices such as the Amplatzer Occluder, the CardioSEAL, Helex, and Clamshell Device are currently being used or have been used in the past. Some ASDs will need to be corrected with open heart surgery to restore normal blood circulation and/or to repair subsequent damage which has occurred in the heart. Many ASDs are not detected until adulthood. Left untreated for decades, potential problems include lung disease, exercise intolerance, heart rhythm abnormalities, shortened life expectancy and the increased risk of a stroke.Atrial septal defects occur in 5 to 10 percent of all children born with congenital heart disease. For unknown reasons, girls have atrial septal defects twice as often as boys.Atrioventricular Septal Defect (also known as atrioventricular canal defect, or AV canal) This complex defect is best described as a large hole in the middle of the heart. It results from a lack of separation of the atria and the ventricles into separate chambers, and a lack of separation of the mitral and tricuspid valves into two separate valves. This results in a large connection between the two atria, between the two ventricles, and a single atrioventricular (or AV) valve where there should be separate mitral and tricuspid valves. In the most complex form of this defect, not only are there holes between the atria, the ventricles, and the mitral/tricuspid valves, one of the ventricles may not be properly formed, the valves may be 'over-riding' or 'straddling', or there may be an obstruction to the aorta. Because of the large amount of extra blood going to the lungs (through the septal defects), high blood pressure may occur and over time this can damage the blood vessels. In addition, the valve between the upper (atrial) and lower (ventricular) chambers might not close properly. Blood then leaks backward from the ventricular chambers to the atrial chambers. This leak is referred to as regurgitation or insufficiency of the valve. When the valve leaks, the heart has to pump more blood. This can lead to enlargement of the heart.This defect is usually corrected in infancy with open heart surgery to restore normal blood circulation through the heart. Surgical repair consists of separation of the common AV valve into two valves, along with closure of the VSD and ASD. Some children, however, may have too complex a defect to correct in infancy, and would initially require a pulmonary artery banding. This will decrease blood flow and reduce the high pressure in the lungs. When the child is older, the band will be removed and the defect corrected with open heart surgery.Atrioventricular canal occurs in two out of every 10,000 live births, and equally in boys and girls.
http://www.GlitterMaker.com/ - Glitter Graphics - MySpace Layouts - Site Clocks The normal aortic valve has three flaps (cusps) that open and close. A bicuspid valve has only two cusps. There may be no symptoms in childhood, but by adulthood (often middle age or older), the valve can become narrowed, making it harder for blood to pass through it, or it may start allowing blood to leak backward through it. Treatment depends on how well the valve works.Bicuspid aortic valve is the most common congenital cardiac anomaly occurring in 1-2% of the population with males affected 4 times more frequently than females. Complete heart block (complete AV block) In this defect, the heart's electrical signal doesn't pass from the heart's own natural pacemaker in the atrium to the lower chambers. When this occurs, an independent pacemaker in the lower chambers takes over. The ventricles can contract and pump blood, but at a slower rate than the atrial pacemaker. Complete heart block is most often caused in adults by heart disease or as a side effect of drug toxicity. Heart block also can be present at birth. This is called congenital heart block. It also may result from an injury to the electrical conduction system during heart surgery. When the pacemaker in the ventricles isn't fast enough or reliable enough, an artificial pacemaker is put in. Heart block can be of varying degrees:First-degree heart block, or first-degree AV block, is when the electrical impulse moves through the AV node more slowly than normal. The time it takes for the impulse to get from the atria to the ventricles should be less than about 0.2 seconds. If it takes longer than this, it's called first-degree heart block. Heart rate and rhythm are normal, and there may be nothing wrong with the heart. Certain heart medicines such as digitalis can slow conduction of the impulse from the atria to the ventricles and cause first-degree AV block. In second-degree heart block, some signals from the atria don't reach the ventricles. This causes "dropped beats." In third-degree or complete heart block, no signal passes from the atria to the ventricles. This requires a pacemaker. Congenital heart block, when detected at or before birth in a structurally normal heart, is strongly associated with autoantibodies reactive with certain proteins. To read more about this condition and possibly take part in the National Research Registry for Neonatal Lupus
http://www.GlitterMaker.com/ - Glitter Graphics - MySpace Layouts - Glitter Graphics In this congenital heart defect the ventricles are switched so that the left ventricle pumps blood to the lungs, and the right ventricle pumps blood out the aorta. In this defect, the position of the two ventricles is reversed so that the right atrium enters the left ventricle, and the left atrium enters the right ventricle. With this arrangement blood is flowing through the wrong ventricles, but it is still going in the correct direction, hence the term "congenitally corrected transposition". This defect is commonly associated with ventricular septal defect, pulmonic stenosis, heart block and an Ebstein-like malformation of the tricuspid valve. The normal right ventricle pumps blood to the lungs at a low pressure (about 25 mmHg). The left ventricle, pumping blood to the body, pumps at whatever pressure your blood pressure is (about 120 mmHg). With time, since the right ventricle is not built to pump to such a high pressure as the left ventricle, it may weaken, dilate, and cause symptoms.This is an uncommon defect occurring in less than 1% of all people with congenital heart defects. Many people with this defect may live into adulthood before the defect is diagnosed and before symptoms occur.
http://www.GlitterMaker.com/ - Glitter Graphics - MySpace Layouts - MySpace LayoutsThe aorta is the main artery that sends oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the body. Coarctation of the aorta is a constricted segment of the aorta that obstructs blood flow to the body. The left ventricle has to pump harder because the pressure is high. Because of this, the heart may enlarge. Coarctations most often occur as isolated defects, but may occur with a ventricular septal defect, subaortic stenosis, or complex congenital heart defects. Surgery may be needed to correct the defect, depending on the severity of the coarctation and the presence of other congenital defects. Another option may be a balloon angioplasty.Coarctation of the aorta occurs in about 6 to 8 percent of all children with congenital heart disease. Boys have the defect twice as often as girls do.
http://www.GlitterMaker.com/ - Glitter Graphics - MySpace Layouts - Site ClocksLeft coronary artery attached to the right side of his heart along with the right coronary artery.
http://www.GlitterMaker.com/ - Glitter Graphics - MySpace Layouts - Graffiti Creator Dextrocardia litterally means "heart on the right". If the developing heart tube bends to the left instead of the right, then the heart is displaced to the right and develops in a mirror image of its normal state. It is interesting to note that identical twins are sometimes "mirror images" of each other, one having organs in the normal positions and one having them on the opposite side of the body. This is a condition called situs inversus.Having dextrocardia does not mean the heart is defective, it just means that it is on the right instead of the left side of the body. Assuming there are no associated vascular abnormalities, then the heart functions normally.In cases where the heart is the only organ which is transposed, known as isolated dextrocardia, there are usually other severe cardiac abnormalities. Dextrocardia can complicate heart defect treatments in that it can make surgery even more difficult, and heart transplants for patients with dextrocardia are more difficult since the anatomy of the donor and recipient don't match.
http://www.GlitterMaker.com/ - Glitter Graphics - MySpace Layouts - MySpace LayoutsDiGeorge syndrome is a complex birth defect. In most cases there is a chromosomal defect on chromosome 22. DiGeorge consists of a particular group of symptoms frequently occurring together, including the following:hypoparathyroidism (underactive parathyroid gland), which results in hypocalcemia (low blood calcium levels) hypoplastic (underdeveloped) thymus or absent thymus, which results in problems in the immune system conotruncal heart defects (i.e., tetralogy of Fallot, interrupted aortic arch, ventricular septal defects, vascular rings) cleft lip and/or palate In the 1980s, the technology was developed to identify underlying chromosome defects of three similar syndromes. It was determined that over 90 percent of all patients with features of DiGeorge, Shprintzen, and velo-cardio-facial syndromes had a chromosome deletion in the region of 22q11. In other words, this was the same syndrome, but because several different researchers in different areas of expertise had described it, the syndrome carried multiple names. Many physicians and researchers today use the term 22q11 deletion syndrome because it describes the underlying chromosome problem, or velo-cardio-facial syndrome (VCFS) because it describes the main body systems involved. Statistically, patients with DiGeorge have the following: 69 percent have palatal abnormalities (such as cleft lip and/or palate) 30 percent have feeding difficulties 80 percent have conotruncal heart defects (i.e., tetralogy of Fallot, interrupted aortic arch, ventricular septal defects, vascular rings) 40 percent have hearing loss or abnormal ear exams 30 percent have genitourinary anomalies (absent or malformed kidney) 60 percent have hypocalcemia (low blood calcium levels) 40 percent have microcephaly (small head) 40 percent have mental retardation (usually borderline to mild) IQs are generally in the 70 to 90 range 33 percent of adults have psychiatric disorders (i.e., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder) 2 percent have severe immunologic dysfunction (an immune system which does not work properly due to abnormal T-cells, causing frequent infections) Approximately 10 percent of individuals who have the features velo-cardio-facial syndrome (VCFS) do not have a deletion in the chromosome 22q11 region. Other chromosome defects have been associated with these features, as have maternal diabetes, fetal alcohol syndrome, and prenatal exposure to Accutane® (a medication for cystic acne).
http://www.GlitterMaker.com/ - Glitter Graphics - MySpace Layouts - Graffiti CreatorThe ascending aorta splits into 2 "arches" which pass to the right and left of the trachea and esophagus. The two arches rejoin behind the esophagus to form the descending aorta. There are two types: Type 1 has both arches open and functioning and this type is the most common. Type 2 has both arches intact but one is very narrow, usually the left.
http://www.GlitterMaker.com/ - Glitter Graphics - MySpace Layouts - Banner MakerNormally, a ventricle has just ONE outlet. For the left ventricle, this is the aorta. For the right ventricle it is the pulmonary artery. In DORV, both of these "outlet" blood vessels - aorta and pulmonary artery -arise from the RIGHT VENTRICLE, either totally or to a great extent. Most cases of DORV have a VSD. DORV is classified based on the relationship between the VSD and the blood vessels. If the VSD is right under the aorta, it is called DORV with Sub-Aortic VSD. If it lies under the pulmonary artery, it becomes DORV with Sub-Pulmonary VSD - also called the TAUSSIG-BING anomaly. If the VSD is under both the arteries, it is called DORV with Doubly Committed VSD. Sometimes, the VSD is farther away from the arteries, and is known as DORV with Non-Committed VSD. When in addition to this, there is narrowing of the pulmonary valve (Pulmonary Stenosis), the condition is similar to Tetralogy of Fallot (ToF). If the VSD is below the pulmonary valve, the features are just like those of Transposition of Great Arteries (TGA). When the VSD is doubly committed or non committed, clinical features are variable.
http://www.GlitterMaker.com/ - Glitter Graphics - MySpace Layouts - Random FactsThis defect is a downward displacement of the tricuspid valve (located between the heart's upper and lower chambers on the right side) into the heart's right bottom chamber (or right ventricle). It's usually associated with an atrial septal defect. While there is free flow of blood forward across the tricuspid valve to the right ventricle, the deformed tricuspid valve allows a large amount of blood to flow backwards from the right ventricle to right atrium when the right ventricle contracts. About 10% of cases are associated with chronic maternal lithium use. The treatment of this disorder depends on whether or not the person with it has any symptoms. Surgery is sometimes required early in life. On the other hand, people may have a normal life expectancy. Irregular and fast heartbeats (arrhythmia) frequently accompany this condition.
http://www.GlitterMaker.com/ - Glitter Graphics - MySpace Layouts - Glitter GraphicsEndocardial Fibroelastosis is a rare heart disorder that affects infants and children. It is characterized by an abnormal thickening of heart tissue, especially around the valves, causing abnormal enlargement of the heart (cardiac hypertrophy), especially affecting the left ventricle. Impaired heart and lung function can eventually lead to congestive heart failure. It can cause valve failure and sudden death. Endocardial Fibroelastosis may occur for no apparent reason (sporadic) or may be inherited as an X-linked or autosomal recessive genetic trait.
http://www.GlitterMaker.com/ - Glitter Graphics - MySpace Layouts - Graffiti CreatorEisenmenger's complex is a ventricular septal defect combined with pulmonary high blood pressure, the passage of blood from the right side of the heart to the left (right to left shunt) and an enlarged right ventricle. It may also include a malpositioned aorta that receives blood from both the right and left ventricles (an overriding aorta). Without early surgical correction of the underlying defect, such changes may cause progressive damage small blood vessels in lung tissue (pulmonary vascular disease).
http://www.GlitterMaker.com/ - Glitter Graphics - MySpace Layouts - Graffiti CreatorDisorder characterized by distinctive malformations of the bones of the thumbs and forearms (upper limbs) and/or abnormalities of the heart.
http://www.GlitterMaker.com/ - Glitter Graphics - MySpace Layouts - Site ClocksThe main feature of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy is an excessive thickening of the heart muscle. Heart muscle may thicken in normal individuals as a result of high blood pressure or prolonged athletic training. In Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM), however, the muscle thickening occurs without an obvious cause. The condition has been known by a number of other names including "hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy" (HOCM), "idiopathic hypertrophic sub-aortic stenosis" (IHSS) and "muscular sub-aortic stenosis" The general term "hypertrophic cardiomyopathy" is now the most widely used and recommended. Cardiomyopathy differs from many of the other disorders of the heart in several ways, including the following:Cardiomyopathy can, and often does, occur in the young. The condition is fairly uncommon, affecting only about 50,000 Americans (adults and children). Cardiomyopathy is a leading cause for heart transplantation. The condition tends to be progressive and sometimes worsens fairly quickly. It may be associated with diseases involving other organs, as well as the heart.
http://www.GlitterMaker.com/ - Glitter Graphics - MySpace Layouts - Glitter GraphicsHypoplastic left heart syndrome, or HLHS for short, means that the left side of the heart did not develop normally. Therefore, the mitral and aortic valves are usually tiny or absent, as are the the left ventricle and the first part of the aorta. Perhaps the most critical defect in HLHS is the small, underdeveloped left ventricle. In a normal heart, this chamber is very strong and muscular so it can pump blood to the body. When the chamber is small and poorly developed, it will not function effectively and cannot provide enough bloodflow to meet the body's needs. For this reason, an infant with HLHS will not live long without surgical intervention. Parents are given a number of options depending on when the diagnosis is made potentially including -- abortion of the fetus, compassionate care (no surgical intervention which results in the baby passing away usually within the first two weeks of life) or one of a number of surgical option.There are two, possibly three, surgical options; one is cardiac transplantation, in which the heart is replaced by a donated heart,; another is a 3-staged surgical procedure and the last surgical option is only available for a subset of HLHS patients and is called a biventricular repair.
http://www.GlitterMaker.com/ - Glitter Graphics - MySpace Layouts - Graffiti Creator This defect consists of a complete obstruction of the right ventricle outflow tract due to a hypoplastic (narrowed) pulmonary artery. When the ventricular septum is intact the PDA and / or bronchial collateral arteries provide the only source of pulmonary blood flow. There are two types of this defect: A small right ventricle with a thick wall and a small but working tricuspid valve. This is the most common. The other type is to have a normal right ventricle with a complete but malfunctioning tricuspid valve.
http://www.GlitterMaker.com/ - Glitter Graphics - MySpace Layouts - Glitter GraphicsIn this defect, part of the aorta is absent and this leads to severe obstruction to blood flow to the lower part of the body. In the immediate newborn period blood flows through the ductus into the descending aorta and reaches the lower part of the body. As the ductus closes after birth, blood pressure in the lower circulation becomes inadequate and severe symptoms develop. Most affected infants develop severe symptoms (difficulty breathing and impaired kidney function) in the first week of life and need urgent surgery.
http://www.GlitterMaker.com/ - Glitter Graphics - MySpace Layouts - Pimp Text The left ventricle is made up of embryonic tissue that stopped developing completely in gestation and never finished "forming."
http://www.GlitterMaker.com/ - Glitter Graphics - MySpace Layouts - Graffiti CreatorKawasaki disease is the most common form of vasculitis that primarily affects children. The disease produces irritation and inflammation of many tissues of the body including the hands, feet, whites of the eyes, mouth, lips, and throat. High fever and swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck also are characteristic of this illness. The inflammation is uncomfortable, but resolves with time. However, the main threat from Kawasaki disease comes from its effect on the heart and blood vessels. Heart-related complications can be temporary or may affect the child long-term. The heart, particularly the coronary arteries, is affected in as many as 20 percent of children with Kawasaki disease. Another name for Kawasaki disease is mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome.Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Obstruction (LVOTO) This defect consists of having both atrio-ventricular and ventriculo-arterial connections. Note that neither hypertrophic cardiomyopathy nor interrupted aortic arch are considered here.LONG QT syndrome (LQTS) Long QT syndrome (LQTS) is an abnormality of the heart's electrical system. The mechanical function of the heart is entirely normal. The electrical problem is due to defects in heart muscle cell structures called ion channels. These electrical defects predispose affected persons to a very fast heart rhythm (arrhythmia) called torsade de pointes which leads to sudden loss of consciousness (syncope) and may cause sudden cardiac death.
http://www.GlitterMaker.com/ - Glitter Graphics - MySpace Layouts - Graffiti CreatorChildren with Marfan syndrome are at risk for serious problems involving the cardiovascular system, including the following:mitral valve prolapse - an abnormality of the valve between the left atrium and left ventricle of the heart that causes backward flow of blood from the left ventricle into the left atrium. arrhythmia (or disrhythmia) - a fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat. aortic regurgitation - backwards leakage of blood from the aorta, through a weakened aortic valve, and into the left ventricle, resulting in stress in the left heart and inadequate blood flow to the body. aortic dissection - weakening of the layers inside the aorta, which can result in tears in the aortic wall and leakage of blood into the chest or abdomen; a medical emergency. A deficiency of fibrillin in connective tissue creates the abnormalities in organs and body structures that may be seen with Marfan syndrome. Other symptoms may be noted that contribute to the certainty of the diagnosis. Each child may experience symptoms differently. Non-heart related symptoms may include: deformities of the breastbone scoliosis - a sideways curvature and rotation of the vertebrae, giving the appearance that the person is leaning to one side. misalignment of certain bones joint contractures unusual arm span long fingers and toes dislocation of the lens in the eye.
http://www.GlitterMaker.com/ - Glitter Graphics - MySpace Layouts - MySpace LayoutsDirect connections (natural shunts) from the aortic system (red blood) to the lungs.
http://www.GlitterMaker.com/ - Glitter Graphics - MySpace Layouts - Banner Maker Located in the heart between the left atrium (upper chamber) and left ventricle (lower chamber), the mitral valve consists of two flaps or leaflets, which normally open and shut in coordinated fashion to allow blood to flow only in one direction -- from the atrium to the ventricle. In patients with MVP, one or both of the flaps are enlarged, and the leaflets' supporting muscles are too long. Instead of closing evenly, one or both of the flaps collapse or bulge into the atrium, sometimes allowing blood to flow backwards into the atrium. The condition produces a distinctive "clicking" sound that can be heard when listening to the heart with a stethoscope.
http://www.GlitterMaker.com/ - Glitter Graphics - MySpace Layouts - Site Clocks Noonan syndrome is a genetic condition that affects the heart, growth, blood clotting, and mental and physical development.
http://www.GlitterMaker.com/ - Glitter Graphics - MySpace Layouts - Pimp Text This defect is associated with ASD and is also associated with hypogenetic lung (scimitar syndrome).
http://www.GlitterMaker.com/ - Glitter Graphics - MySpace Layouts - Site ClocksA PDA, or patent ductus arteriosus, is a connection (called the ductus arteriosus) between the aorta and the pulmonary artery that doesn't close off after the baby is born. In utero, the baby depends on the ductus to get oxygen from the mother, since the lungs are not working (the baby doesn't breathe in utero). When the baby is born, there are hormonal changes in the baby that normally close off the ductus, since the baby is now breathing and no longer needs it. If the ductus remains open, it may cause an excessive amount of blood to go to the lungs. Depending on the size of the PDA and the condition on the lungs, the baby may have no symptoms, or be in severe heart failure. Patent ductus arteriosus is often closed in the cardiac catheterization laboratory by the insertion of specially designed coils. These coils sit in the PDA and expand to the point where they block all the blood flow.Patent ductus arteriosus is the sixth most common congenital heart defect, occurring in 5 to10 percent of all children with congenital heart disease. Patent ductus arteriosus occurs twice as often in girls as in boys.
http://www.GlitterMaker.com/ - Glitter Graphics - MySpace Layouts - MySpace LayoutsNo pulmonary valve exists, so blood can't flow from the right ventricle into the pulmonary artery and on to the lungs. The right ventricle acts as a blind pouch that may stay small and not well developed. The tricuspid valve is often poorly developed, too. An opening in the atrial septum lets blood exit the right atrium, so venous (bluish) blood mixes with the oxygen-rich (red) blood in the left atrium. The left ventricle pumps this mixture of blood into the aorta and out to the body. The only source of lung blood flow is the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), an open passageway between the pulmonary artery and the aorta. If the PDA narrows or closes, the lung blood flow is reduced to critically low levels. This can cause very severe cyanosis. Early treatment often includes using a drug to keep the PDA from closing. A surgeon can create a shunt between the aorta and the pulmonary artery to help increase blood flow to the lungs. A more complete repair depends on the size of the pulmonary artery and right ventricle. If they are very small, it may not be possible to correct the defect with surgery. In cases where the pulmonary artery and right ventricle are a more normal size, open-heart surgery may produce a good improvement in how the heart works. If the right ventricle stays too small to be a good pumping chamber, the surgeon can compensate by connecting the right atrium directly to the pulmonary artery. The atrial defect also can be closed to relieve the cyanosis.Pulmonary atresia occurs in about one out of every 10,000 live births.
http://www.GlitterMaker.com/ - Glitter Graphics - MySpace Layouts - Random FactsPulmonary stenosis is a narrowing of the pulmonary valve. Normally the pulmonary valve opens to let low-oxygen blood flow from the right ventricle to the lungs where the blood is oxygenated. Because of the narrowing, the right ventricle has to pump harder to get past the stenotic valve. This can sometimes lead to enlargement of the right ventricle. With pulmonary stenosis, problems with the pulmonary valve make it harder for the leaflets to open and permit blood to flow forward from the right ventricle to the lungs. In children, these problems can include:a valve that only has one or two leaflets instead of three. a valve that has leaflets that are partially fused together. a valve that has thick leaflets that do not open all the way. Depending on the severity of the pulmonary stenosis, open heart surgery may be needed to correct the defect. Another option may be a balloon valvuloplasty. This procedure is done in the cardiac catheterization lab. Pulmonary stenosis is the second most common congenital heart defect, comprising 5 to 10 percent of all cases. It is a component of half of all complex congenital heart defects.
http://www.GlitterMaker.com/ - Glitter Graphics - MySpace Layouts - MySpace LayoutsRight ventricular outflow tract obstruction (RVOTO) can occur at any level. Supravalvar RVOTO seldom occurs alone. It may occur as part of Tetralogy of Fallot, Williams syndrome, Noonan syndrome or in combination with an ASD. Valvar RVOTO, the most common form of RVOTO, is caused by stenosis of the pulmonic valve. It is almost always congenital in origin. Subvalvar RVOTO usually occurs in combination with other defects, particularly VSD and Tetralogy of Fallot. RVOTO (either valvar or subvalvar) may occur in association with subaortic stenosis. Single Ventricle (SV) While the normal heart has two ventricles, in some birth defects, one of these ventricles may be absent or poorly developed. This condition is called single ventricle or univentricular heart.
http://www.GlitterMaker.com/ - Glitter Graphics - MySpace Layouts - Random FactsTetralogy of Fallot is one of the most common forms of complex congenital heart defects that causes cyanosis, or a blue baby.Transposition of the Great Arteries (or Vessels) (TGA/TGV) In this congenital heart defect, the aorta (the main artery that carries blood to the body) originates from the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery (the artery that carries low-oxygen blood to the lungs) from the left ventricle. Because of this reversal, the aorta carries low-oxygen blood from the right ventricle to the body.
http://www.GlitterMaker.com/ - Glitter Graphics - MySpace Layouts - Glitter GraphicsPulmonary veins normally bring oxygenated blood back from the lungs to the left atrium. In TAPVR all the pulmonary veins drain into the right atrium. In order for the infant to survive, they must have some communication between the right and left sides of the heart to allow-oxygenated blood to reach the body. This is always an ASD, although a VSD may be present as well. Because this oxygenated blood is so dilute, the infant may appear blue or "cyanotic".a href="http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vd3d3LkdsaXR0ZXJNYW tlci5jb20v&qu