Congenital Heart Disease

What is congenital heart disease?

Congenital heart disease is a heart problem that you are born with. It means that the heart did not develop normally before birth.

Three kinds of problems can be caused by congenital heart disease or defects:

• The heart does not pump blood well because it is not fully developed.
• Blood flow in the heart is blocked by abnormal heart valves or arteries. This can put a strain on the heart muscle.
• The path of blood flow through the heart or major blood vessels is not normal.

An abnormal path of blood flow usually happens when there is a hole in the walls of the heart. Sometimes there is an abnormal connection between 2 arteries outside the heart. In some cases, blood that should be flowing to the lungs for more oxygen flows instead to the rest of the body. When this happens, the skin or lips look blue--a symptom called cyanosis. At other times, blood may go to the lungs that should go to the rest of the body. This puts a strain on the heart and lungs.

How does it occur?

Most of the time the cause of congenital heart disease is not known. Some conditions that increase the risk of being born with a heart defect include:

• congenital heart disease in other family members
• diabetes in the mother
• an infection in the mother during pregnancy, such as rubella (German measles).

A medicine or drug the mother has used during pregnancy may also increase the risk that a baby will be born with a heart defect.

What are the symptoms?

Most defects cause a whispering sound, or murmur, as blood moves through the heart. Symptoms may include shortness of breath and chest pain.

How is it diagnosed?

Mild congenital heart defects may not be noticed until adulthood. Your healthcare provider will ask about the medical history and do an exam. Tests may be done, such as:

• echocardiogram (an ultrasound scan of the heart)
• electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), which is a recording of the electrical activity of the heart
• angiogram, which uses X-ray pictures of dye injected into a blood vessel to look inside the heart and blood vessels
• MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), which uses magnetism, radio waves, and a computer to make pictures of the heart and blood vessels
• cardiac computed tomography (CT), in which X-rays are taken at different angles and then combined by a computer for pictures of the heart and blood vessels
• oxygen monitor to see if the oxygen level in the blood is low.

How is it treated?

Sometimes the defect gets better without treatment. Or the defect may be small and not need treatment. Occasionally, the congenital heart defect is serious and needs to be repaired with open heart surgery. Some defects may be able to be repaired with catheters rather than open heart surgery.

How long will the effects last?

Many people with congenital heart defects can live normal lives. Some may need to limit their activities and take medicines.

How can I help take care of myself?

Carefully follow your healthcare provider's instructions.

Ask your healthcare provider if you need to take antibiotics before dental procedures or before tests to look into the bladder or rectum. The use of antibiotics before these procedures can prevent infection.

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Published by RelayHealth.
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