Congenital Heart Disease

Brief Information

Introduction

Congenital heart disease differs from other heart defects in that it is present from birth. At least eight in every 1,000 babies are born with a heart or circulatory condition and only about a quarter of these are detected by ultrasound scans. Sometimes, a congenital heart condition will not be found out until later in the child's life.

Some types of congenital heart defects cause no problems to the child, while the rest can often be treated successfully. Before the 1960s, when open-heart surgery wasn't carried out on children, many who had congenital heart disease died in infancy.

Common examples of congenital heart diseases are:

• Openings in the internal wall of the heart
• Narrowing of the main heart valves (pulmonary valve stenosis)
• Failure by a blood channel, used only before the baby is born, to close at the right time (patent ductus arteriosus)
• Narrowing of the main artery of the body (actric stenosis)
• Blockages in the pathways between the heart and the lungs
• Abnormal connections between the chambers and vessels of the heart

Causes

In most cases of congenital heart disease, the cause is unknown. Some heart conditions in babies are due to faulty genes. This means that a heart condition could be passed down from the mother or father through the genes.

Sometimes congenital heart disease is the result of the mother's health during pregnancy.  If she has diabetes, for example, there is a small chance it could affect the baby's heart.

Illegal drugs and some prescribed drugs taken during pregnancy, as well as alcohol and smoking, can also have an affect.

Other causes include viral infections early in pregnancy, such as German Measles (Rubella) and chromosomal problems affecting the child such as Down's Syndrome.

Treatment

Congenital heart diseases that affects a child's health and lifestyle will usually require surgery, depending on the exact nature of the disease. Most children make a straightforward recovery.

Advances in the surgical treatment of congenital heart disease mean that nowadays most children can be cured. At the very least, treatment can greatly improve quality of life.

In some cases, further surgery will be required in later life. Precautions may also be necessary when taking certain medications, depending on the type of heart defect and the type of surgery carried out.

More Information

• British heart foundation - Living with congenital heart disease

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