Caring for Babies with Heart Defects
Don't Skip a Beat
Is This Normal?
Typically, congenital heart conditions are detected before a baby is born or shortly thereafter, but in some cases, indicators of a heart defect, such as a heart murmur, may develop later.
It's important to understand, however, that a murmur isn't always a sign of a problem. Seven out of 10 children with healthy hearts will experience a murmur before kindergarten.
In teenagers, chest pain and syncope or "blacking out" are common and typically aren't associated with heart problems. However, if your teenager experiences chest pain or syncope with exercise, speak with your child's primary care physician.
Learning that your baby has a congenital heart defect can be frightening, but it's important to remember that not all defects cause significant complications. Whether your child's condition is minor or more severe, take comfort in knowing that Children's Hospital Colorado can deliver the specialty care your little one needs.
According to the National Institutes of Health, congenital heart defects are considered the most common form of major birth defects. Between eight and 10 of every 1,000 children are born with a congenital heart defect.
Because structural development problems may occur in the walls of the heart or in the valves, arteries and veins in and around the heart, there are numerous types of congenital heart defects. However, the main problem caused by all congenital heart conditions is the disruption of blood flow. Depending on the type of congenital heart condition, blood may slow down, flow in the wrong direction or to the wrong location, or be entirely blocked.
Common Congenital Heart Conditions
Two of the most common congenital heart conditions seen in patients at Children's Hospital Colorado Heart Institute include ventricular septal disease (VSD) and coarctation of the aorta.
- Ventricular septal disease is characterized by a hole in the wall of the heart that separates the two pumping chambers. In most cases, holes associated with VSD close on their own, and others can be repaired with surgery when a child is three to four months old.
- Coarctation, the constriction of the heart's main artery, can be treated with surgical intervention.
"With recent advancements in fetal medicine, obstetricians are able to screen children for congenital heart defects even before they're born," said Adel Younoszai, MD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and Director of Cardiac Imaging and Fetal Cardiology at Children's Hospital Colorado. "Should there be a problem, we are well equipped to make a diagnosis, provide support to parents and develop a management plan for the condition prior to the child's birth."
Learn more about treatment options for congenital heart disease at Children's Hospital Colorado.
