Pathology:
“Congenital Heart Defect” is a condition where a child is born with a structural problem in the heart.These heart defects develop during pregnancy in the mothers womb. The defects range from a small hole in the heart to major structural abnormalities. Surgical procedures to correct these defects are extremely complex and it is further complicated due to small size of the Heart itself. Due to advances in Surgical Techniques and availability of improved post operative ICU management, the result of Congenital Heart Defect Surgeries have improved significantly.
The most common Congenital Heart Defect which need correction are “Atrial Septal Defect (ASD)” & “Patent Ductus Arteriosus” (PDA).
Causes of Congenital Heart Disease
- Genetic defects such as “Down’s Syndrome”.
- Use of certain Medication, Alcohol or Drug Abuse during pregnancy.
- Viral infection, such as Rubella in the mother during the first trimester of pregnancy.
Symptoms of Congenital Heart Disease in newborns could be
- Rapid breathing
- Cyanosis- a bluish tint to the skin, lips, and fingernails
- Fatigue
- Poor oral food intake
