CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE

Birth defects of the heart are described in this section, with special emphasis on the treatment options for each type of defect.

>>>	Atrial Septal Defect - ASD A defect in the wall between the left and right atria that causes a shunt of blood inside the heart resulting in increased lung blood flow.
>>>	Coarctation of Aorta - CoA A narrowing in the aorta at the region of the isthmus of the aorta that can cause high blood pressure, left ventricle failure and much more.
>>>	Double Outlet Right Ventricle - DORV A more complex defect caused by the aorta arising from the right ventricle, it can mimic many different conditions clinically.
>>>	Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome - HLHS Caused by a general under-development of the left sided heart structures, this severe condition is recently being treated with improving outcomes.
>>>	Pulmonary Stenosis - PS Narrowing of the pulmonary valve that guards the opening to the pulmonary artery causes a strain on the right ventricle with harmful effects.
>>>	Patent Ductus Arteriosus - PDA This abnormal persistence of a communication between the aorta and pulmonary artery results in an excessive lung blood flow.
>>>	Tricuspid Atresia - TA When the tricuspid valve is imperforate from birth, there is only one functional ventricle. Treatment is by a Fontan operation.
>>>	Transposition of Great Arteries - TGA When the aorta and pulmonary arteries arise from the "wrong" ventricles, there is a mixing of pure and impure blood with harmful effects.
>>>	Ventricular Septal Defect - VSD The wall between the two ventricles has a defect in this condition resulting in blood going from the left ventricle into the right, causing more lung blood flow.
>>>	Coarctation of the Aorta A short account of this disease that narrows the great artery of the body.
12/07/97	Arterial Switch Operation for TGA A simple explanation of this elegant operation for transposed great arteries, a complex birth defect of the heart.
11/23/97	Palliative Operations for Tetralogy of Fallot A short account of the various shunt procedures that pave the way to later corrective surgery.
09/14/97	Mustard Operation for TGA Options for RV failure Right ventricle failure in the long term is a limiting factor in the success of atrial switch for TGA. An account of options available in this situation.
09/07/97	Outcome after Mustard Operation for TGA The older atrial switch operation for TGA has many survivors. A look at what kind of outcome can be expected for them.
08/31/97	Ebstein's Anomaly A simple description of this complex cyanotic heart disease and methods of it's treatment.
08/17/97	Patent Ductus Arteriosus A look at a common birth defect of the heart, an abnormal connection between the two great arteries the aorta and pulmonary artery.
06/22/97	Pulmonary Autograft (Ross Operation) for Aortic Stenosis Using the patient's own pulmonary valve to replace a diseased aortic valve combines advantages of a homograft with the benefits of using autologous tissue.
08/02/98	Congenital Heart Disease and Pregnancy This article deals with the impact that birth defects of the heart have on the course of a pregnancy, and discusses some specific conditions in pregnancy.
02/15/98	VSD Treatment Options Treatment options for this common birth defect of the heart are discussed.
02/08/98	Ventricular Septal Defect A simple explanation of a birth defect caused by a hole between two ventricles of the heart.
01/11/98	Minimally Invasive Congenital Heart Surgery See how this exciting concept has found application in treating birth defects of the heart.