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.
