Congenital Heart Defects

Congenital Heart Defects

Atrial Septal Defect (ASD)

-Caused by an opening between the right atrium and left atrium

-Acyanotic heart defect

-Left to right shunt

-May have a mid diastolic murmur and/or a systolic ejection murmur

Coarctation of the Aorta

-It is a narrowing of aorta just below the origin of the left subclavian artery

usually occurs between the aortic arch and descending aorta

-Murmur is usually systolic if present

-Late finding or severe cases will have elevated upper extremity pressures

-Usually not repaired until age 4 or 5

-Can cause congestive heart failure

-Treatment is surgical correction

-May involve balloon arterioplasty

Patent Ductus Arteriosis (PDA)

-This duct remains open after birth between the pulmonary artery and aorta

-Acyanotic left to right heart shunt

-Continuous murmur

-Indomethacin can close

Tetralogy of Fallot

-4 components to Cyanotic Heart Defect

-Large restrictive VSD

-Severe RV outflow obstruction

-RV Hypertrophy

-Overriding aortic root over septum

-Has a right to left shunt

-May see digital clubbing and dyspnea on exertion

-Treated with surgery if symptomatic (Blalock Taussig Shunt)

Ventricular Septal Defect 

-Most defects are small and close spontaneously without any intervention

-Larger defects can cause heart failure and will need surgical repair