In order to fully appreciate how congenital heart defects can impair the muscle's potential to accomplish its job, it is worth reviewing how the heart normally functions. There are four chambers - two upper chambers (atria) and two lower chambers (ventricles). The left and right sides have exact tasks. The right side sends oxygen-poor blood into the lungs to be oxygenated. That blood, rich with oxygen, returns straight through the left side before being sent into the aorta and throughout your body.
There are four valves that control the flow of blood in the middle of the atria and ventricles, and outward from the ventricles. The right atria and ventricle are separated by a tricuspid valve. The left atria and ventricle are separated by a mitral valve. A pulmonary valve allows blood to flow from the right ventricle into the lungs (first passing straight through the pulmonary artery). An aortic valve allows blood to flow from the left ventricle to the rest of your body (after going into the aorta).
With this brief summary of the muscle's normal function in mind, here are the most coarse congenital heart defects:
Holes In The Muscle
The left and right sides of your heart are separated by a wall called the septum. This wall prevents blood from the left and right atria, and the left and right ventricles from mixing. Some children are born with a hole in this wall. If the hole appears in the middle of the atria, it is called an atrial septal defect. If the hole appears in the middle of the ventricles, it is called a ventricular septal defect. Because these holes allow blood in the middle of the atria and ventricles to mix, it prevents the heart from pumping efficiently.
Valvular Problems
Defects can also impact the valves. Each valve has flaps, or leaflets. If the flaps stiffen, the valve may not be able to open properly. That means less blood can get straight through the opportunity and the heart must work harder. This health is known as stenosis. If the flaps prevent the valve from windup properly, blood can leak straight through the opening. This health is known as regurgitation. In some cases, a valve develops poorly and does not allow blood to pass straight through at all. This is known as atresia, a serious health that can lead to heart disease.
Complex Defects
Complex defects are normally comprised of combinations of simpler defects. The most coarse is known as tetralogy of Fallot. It involves stenosis of the pulmonary valve, a ventricular septal defect, a poorly-positioned aorta, and a thickening of the right ventricular muscle. This type of flaw can only be resolved straight through surgery. In most cases, it requires a surgeon to open the chest in order to way the heart, but minimally invasive techniques may come to be more extensive in the near future.
Severe congenital heart defects are normally identified during pregnancy or within weeks after childbirth. If the problems are less severe, they may not be diagnosed for years. If your child is diagnosed with holes in his or her septum, valvular problems, or involved defects, consult your doctor for guidance.
