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When you hear that a child has a congenital heart defect, it means there is a structural problem that has affected the way the heart or major blood vessels have formed. Birth defects like this are common—nearly one out of every 100 children born is affected by congenital heart disease. The majority of these are considered minor defects and likely to resolve spontaneously with growth. However, some of these are major defects, requiring intervention or surgery, or multiple surgeries over many years.
Some congenital heart defects are simple, while others are complex, involving multiple structural problems in the heart or blood vessels. Some common heart defects are holes in the septum (septal defects), which is the wall that divides the two sides of the heart, and problems with the heart valves, which control blood flow to and from the heart.
Serious heart defects are usually detected prenatally or soon after a child is born.
Symptoms vary depending on the type of congenital heart defect. The more serious ones may affect the infant’s ability to feed and gain weight. There may be an increase in the rate or effort of breathing. Other infants may have cyanosis, a bluish discoloration of the skin.
Less serious heart defects may go undiagnosed until later in childhood. Symptoms or signs in older children include swelling in the hands, ankles, or feet, and getting tired or out-of-breath easily while exercising.
Most congenital heart defects can be diagnosed during fetal development using a simple, non-invasive ultrasound technique to evaluate the heart. This is referred to as fetal echocardiography and is performed by specialists trained in diagnosis congenital heart disease in utero. A prenatal diagnosis allows families to have time to learn about the diagnosis and meet with the team who will be taking care of the newborn. It also allows for planning and management strategies to provide the safest delivery and postnatal care.
Yale Medicine researchers are leading efforts to advance understanding of the impact of genetic and inherited mechanisms that may lead to congenital heart defects. Still, it is believed that a number of congenital heart diseases occur spontaneously during the first few weeks of pregnancy, as the heart is developing.
Each case is unique and requires an individualized treatment plan. Cutting-edge treatments offered through the Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program include:
Collaborative, multidisciplinary approach between the Fetal Care Center and Yale New Haven Children’s Heart Center allows for early diagnosis, precision therapy and teamwork care for our patients and their families.
Yale New Haven Children's Hospital
Yale New Haven Hospital
Yale New Haven Children's Hospital
Yale New Haven Children's Hospital
Yale New Haven Children's Hospital
Yale New Haven Children's Hospital
When you hear that a baby or child has a congenital heart defect, it means there is a structural problem that has affected the way the heart or major blood vessels have formed early in pregnancy. Birth defects like this are common—nearly one out of every 100 children born is affected by congenital heart disease.
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