Congenital Heart Disease

Question 1

How common are CHDs?

Answer 1

They affect approximately 8 of 1000 live births.

Question 2

Describe the two main categories of CHDs.

Answer 2

Acyanotic lesions cause:
- left-to-right shunt physiology
- obstructive flow due to stenosis or regurgitation

Cyanotic lesions are caused by presence of desaturated blood in the systemic circulation due to:
- decreased pulmonary blood flow with right-to-left shunt
- increased pulmonary blood flow resulting in increased pulmonary resistance

Question 3

Describe Congenital Aortic Stenosis.

Answer 3

A type of CHD where the aortic valve is narrowed or thickened, making it difficult for the heart to pump blood effectively. This is an acyanotic defect.

Question 4

Describe Transposition of the Great Vessels.

Answer 4

A CHD where the aorta and the pulmonary artery are connected to the wrong ventricle, resulting in a reversed blood flow pattern. This results in oxygen-poor blood being pumped back to the body instead of the lungs, and oxygen-rich blood being pumped back to the lungs instead of the body, leading to cyanosis.

Question 5

Describe Tetralogy of Fallot.

Answer 5

A heart defect made up of four different heart problems:
- Ventricular septal defect
- Overriding aorta
- Pulmonary stenosis
- Right ventricular hypertrophy

This is a cyanotic defect.

Question 6

Describe Coarctation of the Aorta.

Answer 6

• typically consists of a discrete narrowing of the aortic lumen.
• patients with severe coarctation usually present very shortly after birth with symptoms of heart failure, and differential cyanosis
• comorbidity with Turner syndrome
• acyanotic

Question 7

Describe Ventricular Septal Defect.

Answer 7

CHD that presents with a hole between the right and left ventricles. It allows oxygen-rich blood to move back into the lungs instead of being pumped to the rest of the body. They are most often located in the membranous (70%) and muscular (20%) portions of the septum. This is an acyanotic defect.

Question 8

Describe Atrial Septal Defect.

Answer 8

A persistent opening in the interatrial septum after birth. Most common site is at the region of the foramen ovale, termed an ostium secundum. Not the same as a PFO. Acyanotic defect.