Atrial Septal Defect

[EY-tree-al SEP-tul]

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Problem

a hole between the top 2 chambers (atria) of the heart

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Treatment

1. very small holes often close during early childhood on their own
2. minimally invasive procedure done by guiding a small flexible tube through a larger blood vessel) then placing a “plug” to block the hole
3. surgically (opening in the chest) sewing a patch of material over the hole

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Timing

usually done when child is over 3 or 4 years of age

Ventricular Septal Defect

[ven-TRIK-yu-lar SEP-tul]

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Problem

a hole between the bottom 2 pumping chambers (ventricles) of the heart

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Treatment

1. small holes do not need to be closed as they do not cause any problems
2. medication to treat symptoms until surgery
3. surgically (opening in the chest) sewing a patch of material over the hole

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Timing

usually done when child is over 3 to 6 months of age

Atrioventricular Septal Defect

[EY-tree-oh-ven-TRIC-u-lar SEP-tal ]

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Problem

two main features:

1. a large hole in middle of heart involving all 4 chambers
2. “common” valve between the top and bottom of the heart

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Treatment

1. surgically (opening in the chest) sewing either one or two patches to close the hole and dividing the one large valve to create two separate valves - the tricuspid valve that controls the flow of blood from the top right chamber to the bottom right and one (mitral valve) that does the same for the left side of the heart
2. medication to treat symptoms until surgery

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Timing

depends on how severe the symptoms are, usually done in first year of life

Patent Ductus Arteriosis

[PAY-tent DUCK-tus ar-TEAR-ee-OH-sis]

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Problem

a left over connection (duct) between the aorta (largest oxygen rich blood vessel) and the pulmonary artery (largest oxygen poor blood vessel)

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Treatment

1. small ducts can close on their own
2. medication may work for premature babies or newborns
3. minimally invasive procedure (Heart Catheterization) done by guiding a long thin tube through a blood vessel in the leg; the connection can be closed by “coil” or “device” which is like a plug
4. surgically (opening on the side, between the ribs) where the connection is closed with a metal clip or it is tied off

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Timing

when signs and/or symptoms appear

Tetrology of Fallot

[te-tral-uh-jee of Fal-oh]

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Problem

four features involved:

1. Ventricular Septal Defect – a hole between the bottom 2 chambers (ventricles)
2. Pulmonary Stenosis – a narrowing or blockage in the pulmonary artery that takes oxygen poor blood from the right ventricle (lower chamber) to the lungs to get oxygen
3. over riding Aorta – the opening of the aorta lies in the middle of the VSD, instead of the left ventricle
4. thickened muscle of the right ventricle since it works harder to pump blood through narrowing

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Treatment

1. medication to treat symptoms until surgery
2. surgery
   1. temporary operation to relieve symptoms if baby is very small and symptoms are not managed by medication
   2. complete repair (opening the chest) to patch the hole between the ventricles and open up the blood vessel (Pulmonary artery) so blood can be pumped easily out of the heart to the lungs

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Timing

usually between 6 to 12 months of age