Cross-section diagram of a normal human heart. Congenital heart disease (CHD) is heart disease in the newborn, and includes structural defects, congenital arrythmias, and cardiomyopathies. CHD is a defect of the heart that exists primarily at birth, and can describe a wide variety of different abnormalities affecting the heart. CHD occurs when the heart or blood vessels near the heart does not develop properly before birth. Therefore, the heart does not pump because it is not completely developed. Also the blood flow is obstructed in the heart of the vessels nearby, causing an abnormal flow of blood through the heart. Blood flow obstructions put a strain on the heart muscle causing the heart to work harder and beat faster. Abnormal blood flow usually occurs when there is a hole in the walls of the heart and may be an abnormal connection between two arteries outside the heart. Image File history File links Diagram_of_the_human_heart_(cropped). ...
Image File history File links Diagram_of_the_human_heart_(cropped). ...
A congenital heart defect is a defect in the structure of the heart and great blood vessels of the newborn. ...
Causes
Current knowledge about the causes of congenital heart disease is scanty and largely based on small studies(<1,000 patients) . Potential identified factors include environmental factors, such as chemicals, drugs, or infection, and genetic factors. Many genetic conditions and syndromes are associated with congenital heart disease, such as DiGeorge syndrome (22q11 deletion syndrome), Holt-Oram syndrome, and Alagille syndrome. However, the large majority of those born with congenital heart disease do not have genetic syndromes. Existing research suggests that the genetics of congenital heart disease may vary by defect, with reported recurrences rates varying from 0% in transposition of the great arteries to 7.8% in atrioventricular septal defects. Overall total risk has been estimated at approximately 5%, but it is clear that more research is needed to further illuminate causation in congenital heart disease. DiGeorge syndrome is also called Microdeletion 22q11 syndrome (del 22q11. ...
Holt-Oram syndrome is a disorder that affects bones in the arms and hands (the upper limbs) and may also cause heart problems. ...
Alagille syndrome is a genetic disorder that affects the liver, heart, and other systems of the body. ...
Antenatal Detection and Diagnosis Before birth, an obstetric ultrasound scan may be used to screen pregnant women for signs of CHD in their unborn babies. This screening scan is often performed around 20 weeks of pregnancy when the fast moving structures of the fetal heart are large enough to be more easily imaged. If CHD is suspected, a mother will be referred for a fetal echocardiograph, which is a more detailed, diagnostic ultrasound scan by a specialist cardiologist. It is increasingly possible for specialists to screen for CHD as early as 14 weeks, if CHD is suspected from other factors, such as a family history.
Postnatal Detection and Diagnosis After delivery, if congenital heart disease is present but has not been detected, then a newborn baby may appear blue or breathless. Signs of CHD are sometimes mistaken for an infection or illness, so it is important to rule this out. Blueness and/or breathlessness may take some time to present, depending on the type of congenital heart disease and whether there is a duct-dependent lesion (i.e. one relying on an open ductus arteriosis for blood flow). This duct usually closes within the first three days of life in babies born at term (i.e. at nine months gestation).
Detection and Diagnosis in Adulthood Although the majority of congenital heart disease diagnoses are made in childhood, there are significant congenital heart defects which may be go undetected until adulthood. These typically include defects that do not cause cyanosis ("blueness") in childhood but may cause problems over time, such as certain kinds of valve problems, transposition disorders, holes in the heart, and abnormalities of the heart's major veins and arteries. Congenital heart defects are most commonly diagnosed through an echocardiogram - an ultrasound of the heart which shows the heart's structure. Cardiac magnetic resonance(MRI) are used to confirm CHD when signs or symptoms occur in the physical examination. An echocardiograph displays images of the might also be used to confirm the problem, particularly in complex defects in which anatomy is hard to determine with echocardiography. It also finds abnormal rhythms or defects of the heart present with CHD. A chest x-ray may also be issued to look at the anatomical position of the heart and lungs. A Cat Scan(CT) can also be used to visualize CHD. All of these tests are ways to diagnose CHD by a physician.
Outcomes It is now estimated that the number of adults in the United States who have congenital heart disease is approaching one million. Because of advances in cardiac surgery, many who would not previously have survived childhood, now lead normal or relatively normal lives. However, some increase in complications has been observed in adults who were previously thought to have had successful repair of heart defects. These complications include cardiac arrhythmia, disorders of heart valves, and heart failure. Regular check-ups by cardiologists are now recommended for patients with histories of congenital heart disease, including those who may have previously been told that their defects were successfully repaired. Since most adult cardiologists have little experience with congenital heart disease, congenital heart disease centers[1] have been developed to care for adult patients with more severe congenital heart disease. It is thought that some patients, especially those with more complex disorders, and women who are pregnant or considering pregnancy, would likely do better if they are followed in specialty centers. Guidelines have been developed regarding which patients may be successfully followed in non-specialized cardiology practices, and which should be seen in adult congenital heart disease centers. Cardiac surgery is surgery on the heart, typically to treat complications of ischemic heart disease (e. ...
A congenital heart defect is a defect in the structure of the heart and great blood vessels of the newborn. ...
Cardiac arrhythmia is any of a group of conditions in which the electrical activity of the heart is irregular or is faster or slower than normal. ...
In anatomy, the heart valves are valves in the heart that prevent blood from flowing the wrong way. ...
External links
References 1. “The Heart Chest.” Non-profit Organization. <http://www.heartchest.org>.
2. “Congenital Heart Disease.” Clinical Reference Systems. McKesson Health Solutions LLC , 2004. pg 783. Health Reference Center-Academic. 20 Feb. 2006. <http://web7.infotrac.galegroup.com/itw/infomark/1/1/1/purl=rc6_HRCA>.
3. Jacob, Dawn A. “Patent Ductus Arteriosus.” Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. 2001. Health Reference Center-Academic . 20 Feb. 2006. <http://web7.infotrac.galegroup.com/itw/infomark/1/1/1/purl=rc6_HRCA>.
4.Knopper, Melissa, and Teresa G Odle. “Congenital Heart Disease.” Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine. 2004. Health Reference Center-Academic . 20 Feb. 2006. <http://web7.infotrac.galegroup.com/itw/infomark/1/1/1/purl=rc6_HRCA>.
5.Washington, Reginald L. “Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome.” Clinical Reference Systems. McKesson Health Solutions LLC , 2004. p 1724. Health Reference Center-Academic . 20 Feb. 2006. <http://web7.infotrac.galegroup.com/itw/infomark/1/1/1/purl=rc6_HRCA>.
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