CHD Awareness

Congenital Heart Defect Fact Sheet


Sometimes during early pregnancy, a baby's heart fails to form properly, resulting in structural abnormalities known as Congenital Heart Defects. Although some defects are genetic, in many cases the cause is unknown.

It is estimated that 40,000 babies with Congenital Heart Defects (CHD) are born in the United States each year. More than 1 million American children and adults with Congenital Heart Defects and Childhood Onset Heart Disease are alive today.*

CHD is the most frequently occurring birth defect, and is the leading cause of birth-defect related deaths.

Although some babies will be diagnosed at birth, newborns are not routinely screened for CHD. The consequences of a late diagnosis can have serious, lifelong implications, so it is important for the public to be aware of the signs and symptoms in newborns, and children.

Some CHDs may not require treatment other than periodic visits to a Pediatric Cardiologist. Others can be treated with medications or repaired with surgery and/or procedures. Complex defects may require several surgeries and are never really "cured".

Many cases of sudden cardiac death in young athletes are caused by undiagnosed CHDs and Childhood Onset Heart Disease.

It is estimated that more adults than children are living with congenital heart disease, and this population is expected to grow by 5% each year. Yet, many adults with CHD are not receiving adequate ongoing care from trained specialists.***

Nicholas was born with Tetralogy of Fallot and Complete Atrioventricular Canal Defect.

Tetralogy of Fallot is classified as a cyanotic heart defect because the condition causes low oxygen levels in the blood, which leads to cyanosis (a bluish-purple coloration to the skin).
The classic form of Tetralogy includes 4 defects within the heart structures:

*Ventricular septal defect (hole between the right and left ventricles)
*Narrowing of the pulmonary outflow tract (tube that connects the heart with the lungs)
+An aorta (tube that carries oxygenated blood to the body) that grows from both ventricles, rather than exclusively from the left ventricle
*A thickened muscular wall of the right ventricle (right ventricular hypertrophy)

Atrioventricular canal defect is a combination of several abnormalities in the heart present at birth (congenital abnormalities). This defect includes a hole between the chambers of the heart and problems with the valves that regulate blood flow in the heart. Atrioventricular canal defect may also be called endocardial cushion defect or atrioventricular septal defect. Atrioventricular canal defect is often associated with Down syndrome. If left untreated, atrioventricular canal defect may cause congestive heart failure and high blood pressure in the lungs. To correct this defect, doctors often recommend surgery during the first year of life to close the hole and reconstruct the valves.