A congenital heart defect is a problem with the structure of the heart. It is present at birth. Congenital heart defects are the most common type of major birth defect.
A baby's heart begins to develop shortly after conception. During development, structural defects can occur. These defects can involve the walls of the heart, the valves of the heart and the arteries and veins near the heart. Congenital heart defects can disrupt the normal flow of blood through the heart. The blood flow can
- Slow down
- Go in the wrong direction or to the wrong place
- Be blocked completely
Treatment for the defect can include medicines, surgery and other medical procedures and heart transplants. The treatment depends on the type and severity of the defect and a child's age, size and general health. Today, many children born with complex heart defects grow to adulthood and lead productive lives.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
- Congenital Heart Defects(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/heart/congenital_heart_defects.html
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Congenital Heart Defects
(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/chd/chd_what.html
- Congenital Heart Defects(March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation) - http://www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/14332_1212.asp
- Congenital Heart Defects in Children(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/congenital-heart-defects/DS01117/METHOD=print&DSECTION=all
- Mom's Infection May Affect Baby's Heart(03/30/2009, Reuters Health) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_82334.html
- Device Approved for Child Heart Operations(03/09/2009, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_81470.html
- FDA Approves Cardiac Adhesion Barrier for Pediatric Use(03/06/2009, Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2009/NEW01968.html
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Cardiac Catheterization(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/cath/cath_what.html
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Cardiac MRI(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/mri/mri_whatis.html
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Chest X Ray(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/cxray/cxray_whatis.html
- Cyanosis(Texas Heart Institute) - http://www.texasheartinstitute.org/HIC/Topics/Cond/cyanosis.cfm
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Echocardiography(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/echo/echo_whatis.html
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Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG)(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/ekg/ekg_what.html
- Exercise Tests(American Heart Association) - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3005157
- How a Cardiologist Diagnoses Heart Defects(American Heart Association) - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=152
- Pediatric and Fetal Ultrasound(American Society of Echocardiography) - http://www.asecho.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3329
- What Are Holter, Event and Transtelephonic Monitors?(American Heart Association) - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3005149
- Heart Transplants in Infants and Children(American Heart Association) - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4589
- Medical Treatment(American Heart Association) - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1488
- Therapeutic Cardiac Catheterizations for Children with Congenital Heart Disease(American Heart Association) - Links to PDF - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3043183
- Feeding Your Infant with Congenital Heart Disease (CHD)(American Heart Association) - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4885
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Congenital Heart Disease: How to Care for Your Baby and Yourself(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/heartdisease/kids/375.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/common/heartdisease/kids/375.printerview.html
- Keeping Your Heart Healthy(American Heart Association) - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=11080
- Your Child's Special Needs(American Heart Association) - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=179
- Aortic Valve Stenosis and Insufficiency(American Heart Association) - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=11068
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Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia: What You Should Know(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/articles/886.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/articles/886.printerview.html
- Atrial Septal Defect (ASD)(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/atrial-septal-defect/DS00628/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Atrioventricular Canal Defect(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/atrioventricular-canal-defect/DS00745/METHOD=print
- Coarctation of the Aorta(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/coarctation-of-the-aorta/DS00616/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Complete Atrioventricular Canal (CAVC)(American Heart Association) - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=11067
- Ebstein's Anomaly(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/ebsteins-anomaly/DS00805/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
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Heart Murmur(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/heartmurmur/hmurmur_what.html
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Heart Murmurs and Your Child(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/heart/murmurs.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/parent/en_espanol/general/murmurs_esp.html
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Holes in the Heart(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/holes/holes_whatare.html
- Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hypoplastic-left-heart-syndrome/DS00744/METHOD=print
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Patent Ductus Arteriosus(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/pda/pda_what.html
- Patent Foramen Ovale(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/patent-foramen-ovale/DS00728/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Pulmonary Artery Stenosis(Cleveland Clinic Foundation) - http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/pulmonary_artery_stenosis/hic_pulmonary_artery_stenosis.aspx
- Pulmonary Atresia(American Heart Association) - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1303
- Pulmonary Valve Stenosis(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/pulmonary-valve-stenosis/DS00610/METHOD=print
- Single-Ventricle Defects(American Heart Association) - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=11072
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Tetralogy of Fallot(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/tof/tof_what.html
- Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection(American Heart Association) - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1315
- Transposition of the Great Arteries(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/transposition-of-the-great-arteries/DS00733/METHOD=print
- Tricuspid Atresia(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/tricuspid-atresia/DS00796/METHOD=print
- Truncus Arteriosus(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/truncus-arteriosus/DS00746/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
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Velocardiofacial Syndrome(National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders) - http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/voice/velocario.asp
Also available in Spanish http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/spanish/velocario_span.asp
- Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD)(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/ventricular-septal-defect/DS00614/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Congenital Heart Disease: Don't Overlook Condition as an Adult(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/congenital-heart-disease/HB00094/METHOD=print
- Emerging Recognition of School and Behavior Problems in Children with Congenital Heart Defects(Congenital Heart Information Network) - http://tchin.org/resource_room/CHDSchool.htm
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Infective Endocarditis(American Heart Association) - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4436
Also available in Spanish http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3041073
- Physical Activity and Exercise(American Heart Association) - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=11081
- Protein-Losing Enteropathy After the Fontan Operation(Congenital Heart Information Network) - http://tchin.org/resource_room/c_art_04.htm
- Pulmonary Hypertension(American Heart Association) - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=11076
- What Is a Pediatric Heart Surgeon?(American Academy of Pediatrics) - Links to PDF - http://www.aap.org/sections/sap/he3014.pdf
- Anomalous Coronary Artery off the Pulmonary Artery(OR-Live) - One hour program - 02/07/2007 - http://www.or-live.com/distributors/NLM/rnh.cfm?id=403
- Atrial Septal Defect in Children and Adults(OR-Live) - One hour program - 8/08/2006 - http://www.or-live.com/distributors/NLM/rnh.cfm?id=318
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Patent Foramen Ovale Congenital Heart Defect Repair(OR-Live) - One hour program - 5/3/2007 - http://www.or-live.com/distributors/NLM/rnh.cfm?id=521
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Pediatric Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve (TPV) Implantation(OR-Live) - One hour program - 10/04/2007 - http://www.or-live.com/distributors/nlm-flash/chh_2036/rnh.cfm?id=615
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Repair of a Complex Congenital Cardiac Defect(OR-Live) - One hour program - 10/05/2007 - http://www.or-live.com/distributors/nlm-flash/chh_2037/rnh.cfm?id=641
- Repair of Atrial Septal Defects(OR-Live) - One hour program - 6/06/2006 - http://www.or-live.com/distributors/NLM/rnh.cfm?id=296
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Fetal Heart(Texas Heart Institute) - http://www.texasheartinstitute.org/HIC/Topics/Cond/fetal_ht.cfm
Also available in Spanish http://www.texasheartinstitute.org/HIC/Topics_Esp/Cond/fetal_ht_sp.cfm
- How Does Blood Flow through the Heart?(Cleveland Clinic Foundation) - http://my.clevelandclinic.org/heart/heartworks/bloodflow.aspx
- Insurance, Legal Issues and Advance Directives(American Heart Association) - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=11084
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Heart Defects, Congenital(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Heart+Defects,+Congenital%22
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Heart Murmurs(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Heart+Murmurs%22
- Congenital Heart Defects - Causes(Children's Hospital Boston) - http://www.childrenshospital.org/az/Site2116/mainpageS2116P0.html
- Genetic Counseling for Adults with Congenital Heart Disease(American Heart Association) - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=11083
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Genetics Home Reference: 22q11.2 deletion syndrome(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=22q112deletionsyndrome
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Genetics Home Reference: Aarskog-Scott syndrome(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=aarskogscottsyndrome
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Genetics Home Reference: Alagille syndrome(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=alagillesyndrome
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Genetics Home Reference: Cardiofaciocutaneous syndrome(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=cardiofaciocutaneoussyndrome
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Genetics Home Reference: Char syndrome(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=charsyndrome
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Genetics Home Reference: CHARGE syndrome(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=chargesyndrome
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Genetics Home Reference: Costello syndrome(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=costellosyndrome
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Genetics Home Reference: Holt-Oram syndrome(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=holtoramsyndrome
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Genetics Home Reference: McKusick-Kaufman syndrome(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=mckusickkaufmansyndrome
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Genetics Home Reference: Mowat-Wilson syndrome(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=mowatwilsonsyndrome
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Genetics Home Reference: Oculofaciocardiodental syndrome(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=oculofaciocardiodentalsyndrome
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Genetics Home Reference: Opitz G/BBB syndrome(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=opitzgbbbsyndrome
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Genetics Home Reference: Recombinant 8 syndrome(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=recombinant8syndrome
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Genetics Home Reference: Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=simpsongolabibehmelsyndrome
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Genetics Home Reference: Timothy syndrome(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=timothysyndrome
- Pediatric Heart Surgeons May Be Best for Adult Heart Defect Surgery(American Heart Association) - http://americanheart.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=575
- Umbilical Cord Blood May Help Build New Heart Valves(American Heart Association) - http://americanheart.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=548
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Signaling pathways controlling second heart field development. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19390062&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19362677&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Cerebral oximetry during infant cardiac surgery: evaluation and relationship to... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19299774&tool=MedlinePlus
- Congenital Heart Defects -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=heart+defects,congenital[majr]+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+(review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+jsubsetk[text]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+jsubsetn[text])+NOT(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Cardiac Glossary(American Heart Association) - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3038158
- Children & Heart Disease: Glossary(American Heart Association) - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1450
- Deciphering Heart Disease Medspeak(Medical Library Association) - Links to PDF - http://www.mlanet.org/pdf/heart-disease1.pdf
- Heart Surgery Terms(Society of Thoracic Surgeons) - http://www.sts.org/sections/patientinformation/otherresources/heartsurgterms/
- Cardiology Services(Congenital Heart Information Network) - http://tchin.org/cardiology/
- Find an Accredited Echocardiography Laboratory or Vascular Laboratory(American Society of Echocardiography) - http://www.asecho.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3333
- American Heart Association - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1200000
- Congenital Heart Information Network - http://tchin.org/
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National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/
- Insurance, Legal Issues and Advance Directives(American Heart Association) - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=11084
- Congenital Cardiovascular Defects Statistics(American Heart Association) - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4576
- Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics -- 2008 Update(American Heart Association) - Large PDF file - http://www.americanheart.org/downloadable/heart/1200082005246HS_Stats%202008.final.pdf
- Heart Murmurs(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/heart/heart_murmurs.html
- Atrial Septal Defect(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/diseases_conditions/heart/asd.html
- Coarctation of the Aorta(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/diseases_conditions/heart/coa.html
- Ventricular Septal Defect(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/diseases_conditions/heart/vsd.html
- Pregnancy: When You Have a Heart Condition(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/pregnancy/PR00124/METHOD=print
- Sex, Pregnancy and Birth Control(American Heart Association) - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=11082
- Birth Defects - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/birthdefects.html
- Cardiomyopathy - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/cardiomyopathy.html
- Heart Diseases - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/heartdiseases.html
- Blood, Heart and Circulation - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/bloodheartandcirculation.html
- Genetics/Birth Defects - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/geneticsbirthdefects.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Congenital Heart Defects is the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/