Congenital Heart Disease

Congenital Heart Disease

- What is Congenital Heart Disease?

- Common Types of Congenital Heart Disease

- Causes

- Symptoms

- Examples of Common Congenital Heart Disease

- Contact Us

What is Congenital Heart Disease?

Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) is the term used for structural abnormality of the heart. This is due to faulty development before birth.

About six to eight per thousand babies are born with this abnormality. Half of these are minor and require no treatment. However, about a quarter of the affected babies would require medication or surgery in the first year of life.

Common Types of Congenital Heart Disease Atrial Septal Defect (ASD)

Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD)

Patent Arterial Duct (PAD)

Pulmonary Stenosis

Aortic Stenosis

Mitra Valve Prolapse

Coarctation of Aorta

Fallot's Tetralogy

Transposition of Great Arteries

Pulmonary Atresia

Other complex congenital heart diseases

Causes

German measles within the first three months of pregnancy whilst the heart and other organs are being formed will pose a considerable risk of the baby having heart disease and other defects.

Those affected by genetic disorders such as Down's syndrome also have a much higher risk of getting CHD.

Pregnant women who are exposed to certain drugs and those who suffer from diabetes also have increased risks fo foetal cardiac disease.

In mose cases however, it is not possible to identify a definite cause. This appears to be a fault in the complex growth of the heart before birth due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

Symptoms

Many of the babies and children affected with CHD do not show symptoms at all. One abnormality is the presence of a heart murmur when the doctor listens to the heart with a stethoscope. Those with more severe defects may show one or more of the following symptoms and signs: Breathlessness, especially when they exert themselves during bottle or breast feeding in babies and running in older children

Excessive sweating

Slow weight gain

Bluish complexion

Frequent chest infections

Abnormal heart rhythm

Examples of Common Congenital Heart Disease

Atrial Septal Defect (ASD)

A hole in the wall that separates the two upper chambers of the heart. This hole causes some of the blood to flow from the left to the right atrium. This means that the right heart will pump more than the usual amount of blood to the lungs. The amount of blood shunting across will be proportionately larger if the hole is large. Too much blood going to the lungs will make it congested. As a result, the child may grow slowly, tire easily with exercise and have frequent chest infections.

Small ASDs can close spontaneously. Large ASD can now be closed by occulsive device through insertion of a catheter into the vein at the groin.

Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD)

An opening in the wall that separates the two lower chambers of the heart. Similar to ASD, too much blood going to the lungs will make the lungs congested. Likewise, the child may grow slowly, tire easily and experience frequent chest infections. Surgical closure is advised for large VSD that is not suitable for device closure.

Patent Arterial Duct (PAD)

This occurs when the blood vessel that connects the aorta and the pulmonary artery fails to close after birth so that the blood that goes to the body (carried by the aorta) mixes with the blood that goes to the lungs (carried by the pulmonary artery).

PAD is common in premature babies. A special medication (indomethacin) can be given to close the duct. Most of the small PADs close spontaneously. PAD beyond the neonatal period can be closed by insertion of a device through a catheter without surgery.

Pulmonary Stenosis (PS)

This refers to obstruction of the right lower chamber of the heart at the root of the pulmonary artery (blood vessel supplying blood to the lungs). Severe obstruction will cause poor effort tolerance and heart failure. This condition can now be treated by balloon dilation via a catheter without operation with excellent results.

Fallot's Tetralogy (FT)

This is essentially a combination of a hole in the wall that separates the two lower chambers of the heart and a tight narrowing in the outlet of the right lower chamber of the heart, resulting in enlargement of this chamber.

Some of the blood going to the lungs will pass through the hole from the right lower chamber to the left lower chamber without being oxygenated by the lungs. Children with Fallot's tetralogy may develop spells of blueness, shortness of breath, fainting or fits. The child usually tires easily and turns blue with exercise.

The defect can be repaired completely and safely by surgery during infancy.

If left untreated, CHD may eventually lead to serious consequences. Parkway's expertise in this area allows prompt treatment and quick recovery for affected patients. Our state-of-the-art facilities also rank amongst the best in the world.

Here at Parkway, our committed and dedicated multidisciplinary team of specialist doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals work together to provide comprehensive care, to give our best to your child.

Talk to us today and we will be happy to help with doctor referral and appointments. All the above treatments can be arranged through our 24-hour International Patient Assistance Centre (IPAC).

The IPAC hotline 6735 5000 is a free service that connects patients in real time to relevant medical services and doctors across Parkway Hospitals.