Some of the pulmonary veins from the lung drain into the systemic right side of the heart instead of the left. This accounts for less than 1% of CHD, it can often be completely asymptomatic and go several years without detection. Surgical repair is usually needed.

This occurs when all of the pulmonary veins returning from the lungs enter the right systemic circulation rather than the left. Occurring in 1% of CHD this mainly affects males and often presents very early in infancy with blueness (cyanosis) and shortness of breath. Surgery is required to correct this condition.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aortic Stenosis means that there is a narrowing in the Aortic valve, which can be found

between the left ventricle and the aorta.

This means that the heart has to work harder to pump blood through the narrowing.

This places extra stress on the left ventricle.

 

In babies surgery may be necessary to open up the narrowed valve. if the child is older a non surgical procedure will be tried called Balloon Dilatation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An ASD is a hole in the sheet of muscle that separates the two atria. Blood from the left atrium flows through the whole to the right atrium. This increases the blood flow to the lungs. This places an extra workload on the right side of the heart. This condition usually does not cause many symptoms in infancy but symptoms become more prominent as the child gets older.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are two forms of AVSD: Partial or Complete.

 

There is a hole in the septum that separates the two atria.There is also an abnormal valve between the atria and the ventricles

 

 

The hole between the atria extends into the septum separating the two ventricles. There is one single valve between the two atria and the two ventricles.Blood passes from the left ventricle to the right ventricle and this increases the amount of blood going to the lungs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is weakening of the heart muscle associated with dilatation of all four chambers of the heart. This is the most common form of cardiomyopathy and is more usually acquired as a result of infection, toxins or metabolic disturbances; however there is a familial form. Spontaneous improvement with medical treatment is possible. Some cases that do not improve need heart transplantation 

The heart muscle is thickened and as a result there is difficulty in relaxation of the muscle. Inheritance can run in families or as a new occurrence, some cases are associated with specific genetic conditions such as Noonans syndrome.

Treatment with medications, pacemaker and defibrillator implantation may be required in some more severe cases.

This is the least common form of cardiomyopathy. The function of the heart is impaired due to excessively stiff ventricular function. This can have a genetic basis.

 

 

Coarctation of the aorta means there is a narrowing in the main artery that carries blood from the heart to the head and body.When this narrowing occurs, the left ventricle must work harder to pump blood through the narrowing.This raises the blood pressure in the top half of the body, and the blood pressure in the lower half is reduced.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In this condition there is only one pumping chamber in the heart.Blood from both the the upper chambers ( atria ) enters the ventricle through either one or two valves

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HLHS means that the left side of the heart has not developed properly and is very small.

The left side of the heart normally transports oxygen rich blood to the head and body

In a child with this condition the left ventricle and aorta are very small and the only way that the blood can get around the body is if the Ductus Arteriosus remains open (PAD)

The Ductus Arteriosus is an extra blood vessel that connects the aorta and pulmonary artery. It is present in all new born babies and normally closes within a few hours of birth.In some cases the Ductus Arteriosus can be kept openly a drug called Prostaglandin ( Prostiuntil surgery takes place.

Surgery is required as soon as possible.This is a very serious congenital heart defect.It can be treated by a series of  operations called the Norwood procedure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Patent Ductus Arteriosus ( PDA )

 

All babies are born with a ductus arteriosus which is a vessel connecting the aorta and the pulmonary artery. It is open whilst the baby is in the womb to allow blood to be diverted away from the lungs.Normally it should close within a few days after birth.

This extra flow through the lungs can cause breathlessness and make the heart work harder  than it should

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This occurs when the pulmonary valve is blocked and the right ventricle can be small, there may be associated defects also present mainly the presence of a connection between the two ventricles ( Ventricular Septal Defects) . The treatment for this condition is surgery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a narrowing of the pulmonary valve between the right ventricle and the main artery to the lungs. This accounts 5-8% of CHD and may be associated with conditions such as Noonans syndrome. It is primarily treated by dilating the valve with a balloon by cardiac catheter, however in some cases surgery may be necessary.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a combination of four components, a hole between the two ventricles, narrowing of the passage between the right ventricle and the main pulmonary artery, a build up of muscle (hypertrophy) of the right ventricle and misalignment (over ride) of the aortic valve. Accounts for 10% of CHD and is associated with 22q11deletion syndrome in up to 35% of patients. Treatment is by surgery usually in the first year of life. Repair involves closing the VSD with a patch and relieving the narrowing of the pulmonary valve and the area below the valve. Some younger children with the condition will need a palliative operation called a Blalock Taussig shunt before full repair is possible. Many will require further surgery in later childhood or adult life to replace the pulmonary valve.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The main arteries from the heart, the aorta and the pulmonary artery are transposed so oxygenated blood is not delivered to the body but instead returns to the lungs. This accounts for 5% of CHD and is more common in males. Treatment may include a catheter procedure called a balloon atrial septostomy when a small hole is made between the two collecting chambers to allow the blood to mix. Definitive management is by surgical correction with an arterial switch operation typically in the first 2 weeks of life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This occurs when the connection between the right atrium and ventricle is closed. This is a rare form of CHD accounting for 1% of patients. Survival depends on coexisting defects such as ASD, VSD andPDA

Management is with surgery.

There are other conditions that have similarities to tricuspid atresia in terms of the treatment needed. The most common one is double inlet ventricle and combined with tricuspid atresia are often grouped together as “single ventricles”. This is a misnomer as there are two ventricles but one is much smaller than the other and the ultimate treatment is to have a Fontan operation or total cavo-pulmonaryconnection.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a rare condition with a VSD (see Common congenital heart defects: Communication (hole) defects) and a single great artery leaving the heart which then divides into the aorta and pulmonary arteries. It is a condition that is often associated with chromosome abnormalities in particular 22q11 deletion syndrome. Treatment is surgical repair in the first month or so of life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a hole between the two ventricles of the heart. It is the most common form of CHD representing 30% of all new cases. This can vary in severity from small defects which may close spontaneously, to larger defects requiring surgery. In recent years there has been an increase in the number of cases closed by occlusion devises at cardiac catheter.