"Though research is ongoing, at least 35 defects have now been identified"
(It'sMyHeart.org)
1. AORTIC VALVE STENOSIS
(AVS): When a child has AVS, the leaflets that make up his/her aortic valve get stuck and cannot separate fully. This causes a problematic blockage that increases the pumping work of the left ventricle and may lessen the amount of blood that goes out of the ventricle to the body through the aortic valve. (Boston Children's Hospital) |
2. ATRIAL SEPTAL DEFECT (ASD):
An Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) is a hole in the wall between the two upper chambers of your heart. (Mayo Clinic) |
3. Coarctation of the Aorta (CoA):
In Coarctation of the Aorta there is a narrowing of the Aorta, the main artery that delivers oxygen rich (red) blood to the body. The narrowing restricts the amount of oxygen-rich blood tha can travel to the lower part of the body. (Boston's Children Hospital) |
4. EBSTEIN'S ANOMALY (EA):
Abnormal development of the tricuspid valve during pregnancy, causing an abnormally positioned valve that does not open easily (stenosis) and allows backflow of blood from the right ventricle into the right atrium (regurgitation). (MayoClinic) |
5. PATENT DUCTUS ARTERIOSOS
(PDA): An unclosed hole in the aorta. Before a baby is born, the fetus's blood does not need to go to the lungs to get oxygenated. The ductus arteriosis is a hole that allows the blood to skip the circulation to the lungs. However, when the baby is born, the blood must receive oxygen in the lungs and this hole is supposed to close. If the ductus arteriosis is still open (or patent) the blood may skip this necessary step of circulation. The open hole is called the patent ductus arteriosis. (American Heart Association). |
6. PULMONARY VALVE STENOSIS:
A thickened or fused heart valve that does not fully open. The pulmonary valve allows blood to flow out of the heart, into the pulmonary artery and then to the lungs. (American Heart Association) |
