Congenital Heart Disease

Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) : A type of malformation in one or more structures of the heart or blood vessels that occurs before birth

Congenital Heart Statistics:
1. It is the number one birth defect
2. 40,000 babies are born with this disease each year
3. 8-10 out of 1000 babies are born with CHD
4. It is the leading cause of defect-related deaths in children (Nearly twice as many kids die from CHD in the U.S. each year as die from all forms of childhood cancers combined

Types of CHD:
Ventrical Septal Defect: A hole in the wall dividing the lower two chambers of the heart

Dextrocardia: Where the heart is on the right side of the body instead of the left

Pulmonary Atresia: Where the pulmonary valve, located between the right ventricle and pulmonary artery is not formed properly. The valve is completely closed, which stops the outflow of blood from the heart to the lungs.

Tetralogy of Fallot: Where the right side of the heart does not develop properly. The parts of the heart affected are the pulmonary valve, right ventricle, and the ventricular septum.

Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome: Where the left side of the heart does not develop properly. The parts of the heart that are affected are the mitral valve, the left ventricle, the aortic valve, and the aorta.