With congenial heart disease, problems with the heart’s structure can include:
Different types of congenital heart disease are classified into several categories including:
Symptoms vary, depending on the defect.
Septal defects
In childhood, there may be few, if any, symptoms. Teens and adults may experience the following:
Coarctation of the aorta
Symptoms may include:
Aortic valve defects
People with aortic stenosis, or narrowing, may not experience any symptoms until they develop congestive heart failure. Those with aortic regurgitation, a leaky valve defect, may experience the following:
Mitral valve defects
People with mitral valve defects may not display symptoms until their 30s, when they may experience:
Pulmonic valve defects
When pulmonic stenosis, or narrowing, is severe, people may experience:
Tricuspid valve defects
The symptoms of tricuspid stenosis, or narrowing, include:
Those with tricuspid regurgitation, or a leaky valve defect, may also have an enlarged liver.
Tetralogy of Fallot
Symptoms that may indicate Tetralogy of Fallot include:
The exact cause of congenital heart defects is largely unknown, but many experts believe that genetic and environmental factors play a role.
Risk factors that can increase the chances that an infant will be born with congenital heart disease include:
A diagnosis of congenital heart disease is made by evaluating the person's medical history and symptoms, and by using a variety of tests, which include:
Blood count and hematocrit – blood tests to measure the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood’s cells.
Chest x ray – shadow of the heart on chest x-ray may appear enlarged or abnormal,
Duplex Ultrasound –painless, noninvasive test that uses ultrasound waves to see images of blood vessels and to measure the speed of blood flow through them.
Echocardiogram – painless, noninvasive study that uses ultrasound waves to evaluate heart structure & function in real time.
ECG – noninvasive test, stickers attached to wires placed on the chest, provides a 6 second “snapshot” of heart’s electrical activity. Can be done at a visit. In an abnormal heart, it can change the way electricity flows through it, thus changing the appearance of the ECG.
Computed Tomography (CT) Scan – This test uses x-rays to produce detailed views of the arteries.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) - Magnetic and radio wave energy take pictures of blood vessels to show location and severity of blockage.
Catheterization - Insertion of a thin tube called a catheter into an artery. The catheter is threaded through the arterial system to the area in question, where physicians use it to collect information about the blood vessels, including the heart's blood supply (coronary arteries) or to assess or treat other cardiac problems.
Many people with congenital heart defects are treated with medications. Some of the most commonly prescribed medication groups are:
Surgery can correct many congenital heart defects. Often, a procedure is performed as an infant. Some repairs can be made with a catheter while others require open-heart surgery.
Coarctation of the aorta - Surgical correction includes removing the narrowed segment of the aorta and connecting the two ends or by placing a synthetic graft.
Valvular defects - Heart valves can either be repaired or replaced. Most replacement valves are made from animal tissue. Some may be made from metal. The type of replacement valve selected depends on the patient's age, condition, and their specific anatomy.
Tetralogy of Fallot - Surgery to widen the pulmonary valve and correct ventricular septal defect is usually recommended to treat Tetralogy of Fallot. These patients require lifelong follow up because of leaking of the pulmonary valve and occasional other issues that require monitoring, including right heart size and possible abnormal rhythms.
Other Conditions - Many other congenital abnormalities are beyond the scope of this section, since they occur rarely.
