Common types of congenital heart defects
The most common congenital heart defects are:
- An abnormal opening in a wall that separates the parts of the heart (ventricular septal defect
or atrial septal defect).
- Narrowing of a blood vessel or a heart valve in or near the heart (coarctation of the aorta, pulmonary valve stenosis, or aortic valve stenosis).
- Abnormal positioning of the major blood vessels that connect to the baby's heart (transposition of the great vessels, tetralogy of Fallot, total anomalous pulmonary venous return, or truncus arteriosus).
- Problems with the heart valves (mitral or tricuspid insufficiency).
- A blood vessel that remains open after birth (patent ductus arteriosus
- Underdevelopment of the left side of the heart (hypoplastic left heart syndrome).
| Author: | Douglas Dana Robin Parks, MS | Last Updated: December 20, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics Larry A. Latson, MD - Pediatric Cardiology Andrew Swan, MD, CCFP, FCFP - Family Medicine | |
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