Other Birth Defects of the Heart

In pulmonary atresia, the pulmonic (pulmonary) valve does not form properly, so blood does not flow into the lungs and pick up oxygen. Therefore, oxygen-poor blood is circulated to the body. Pulmonary atresia frequently occurs together with other heart disorders and with abnormalities of the coronary arteries. The symptoms and surgical treatment options depend on what type of other abnormalities are also present.

Single ventricle defects include any complex heart defect in which there is only one functional ventricle. Symptoms depend on the exact abnormality and whether pulmonic valve stenosis Pulmonary Valve Stenosis in Children Pulmonary valve stenosis is a narrowing of the pulmonary valve (sometimes called the pulmonic valve), which opens to allow blood to flow from the right ventricle to the lungs. The heart valve... read more is also present. Most infants have a bluish color of the skin (cyanosis) because their blood is not receiving enough oxygen. Infants with severe pulmonic stenosis may be very blue and require a surgical procedure fairly quickly. Infants without pulmonic stenosis have excessive blood flow to their lungs and develop symptoms of heart failure (for example, rapid breathing, poor feeding, easy tiring, excessive sweating). Surgery is required to correct the heart abnormalities. Usually, multiple surgeries are required over several years.

Infants with tricuspid atresia are born without a tricuspid valve and have an underdeveloped right ventricle. Other heart defects may be present, including atrial septal defect Atrial and Ventricular Septal Defects Atrial and ventricular septal defects are holes in the walls (septa) that separate the heart into the left and right sides. Holes can be present in the walls of the heart between the upper heart... read more , ventricular septal defect Atrial and Ventricular Septal Defects Atrial and ventricular septal defects are holes in the walls (septa) that separate the heart into the left and right sides. Holes can be present in the walls of the heart between the upper heart... read more , patent ductus arteriosus Patent Ductus Arteriosus In patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), the blood vessel connecting the pulmonary artery and the aorta (ductus arteriosus) fails to close as it usually does shortly after birth. Patent ductus arteriosus... read more , pulmonic valve stenosis Pulmonary Valve Stenosis in Children Pulmonary valve stenosis is a narrowing of the pulmonary valve (sometimes called the pulmonic valve), which opens to allow blood to flow from the right ventricle to the lungs. The heart valve... read more , and transposition of the great arteries Transposition of the Great Arteries Transposition of the great arteries is a reversal of the normal connections of the aorta and the pulmonary artery with the heart. The aorta and pulmonary artery are reversed, which causes oxygen-poor... read more . Infants have a bluish color of the skin (cyanosis). Other symptoms depend on what other defects are also present. Diagnosis is by echocardiography. Treatment is surgical repair.

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