Condition Lookup

Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)

Sub-category: Congenital Heart Diseases

Symptoms:
heart murmur; rapid breathing; difficulty feeding; poor growth; fatigue; frequent respiratory infections

Root Cause:
The ductus arteriosus, a blood vessel connecting the aorta and pulmonary artery in fetal circulation, remains open after birth, causing abnormal blood flow between the aorta and pulmonary artery.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Echocardiogram, chest X-ray, ECG, or cardiac MRI.

Treatment:
Observation for small PDAs (may close on their own), catheter-based closure, or surgical ligation.

Medications:
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like indomethacin or ibuprofen to promote closure in premature infants; diuretics for managing fluid overload.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Occurs in about 1 in 2,000 full-term births but is more common in premature infants.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Premature birth, maternal rubella infection, or genetic conditions.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Excellent with treatment; small PDAs may close spontaneously.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Pulmonary hypertension, heart failure, infective endocarditis.

Atrial Septal Defect (ASD)

Specialty: Cardiovascular

Category: Heart Diseases

Sub-category: Congenital Heart Diseases

Symptoms:
shortness of breath; fatigue; frequent respiratory infections in children; heart murmur; swelling of the legs, feet, or abdomen; arrhythmias in adults

Root Cause:
An opening in the atrial septum (wall separating the heart's two upper chambers) that allows blood to flow between the atria, leading to a mix of oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor blood.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Echocardiogram, chest X-ray, electrocardiogram (ECG), cardiac MRI, or cardiac catheterization.

Treatment:
Small defects may close on their own; larger defects require surgical closure or catheter-based repair.

Medications:
While no medications can close the defect, anticoagulants (e.g., warfarin or aspirin ) may be used to reduce stroke risk, and diuretics or beta-blockers may be used to manage symptoms of heart failure.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Estimated to occur in 1 out of every 1,859 live births; more common in females than males.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Family history of congenital heart defects, maternal alcohol or drug use during pregnancy, genetic conditions like Down syndrome.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Excellent with timely repair, with most individuals living normal lives; untreated large defects may lead to heart failure or pulmonary hypertension.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Pulmonary hypertension, stroke, atrial arrhythmias, Eisenmenger syndrome (severe pulmonary hypertension with cyanosis).

Coarctation of the Aorta

Specialty: Cardiovascular

Category: Heart Diseases

Sub-category: Congenital Heart Diseases

Symptoms:
high blood pressure; weak or absent pulses in the legs; cold feet; headaches; nosebleeds; leg cramps or pain during exercise

Root Cause:
Narrowing of the aorta, leading to increased workload on the heart and reduced blood flow to the lower body.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Echocardiogram, chest X-ray, ECG, MRI, or CT angiography.

Treatment:
Balloon angioplasty, stent placement, or surgical repair.

Medications:
Antihypertensives (e.g., beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors) to manage high blood pressure.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Accounts for 5-8% of all congenital heart defects; more common in males.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Genetic syndromes (e.g., Turner syndrome), family history of heart defects.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with early treatment; long-term blood pressure monitoring is essential.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Persistent hypertension, aortic rupture, heart failure, endocarditis.

Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS)

Specialty: Cardiovascular

Category: Heart Diseases

Sub-category: Congenital Heart Diseases

Symptoms:
severe cyanosis; rapid breathing; difficulty feeding; lethargy; cold extremities; heart murmur

Root Cause:
The left side of the heart is underdeveloped, leading to inadequate pumping of oxygen-rich blood to the body.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Prenatal ultrasound, echocardiogram, chest X-ray, or cardiac MRI.

Treatment:
Prostaglandin E1 to keep the ductus arteriosus open, staged surgical repair (Norwood, Glenn, and Fontan procedures), or heart transplantation in severe cases.

Medications:
Prostaglandin E1 (prostaglandin analog), anticoagulants to prevent clotting, and diuretics to manage heart failure symptoms.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Occurs in approximately 1 in 4,000 live births.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Genetic syndromes, maternal diabetes, or prenatal exposure to toxins.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Guarded; survival rates have improved significantly with advances in surgery, but long-term complications are common.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Heart failure, arrhythmias, thromboembolism, developmental delays.

Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD)

Specialty: Cardiovascular

Category: Heart Diseases

Sub-category: Congenital Heart Diseases

Symptoms:
heart murmur; difficulty feeding in infants; poor growth; fatigue; shortness of breath; frequent respiratory infections

Root Cause:
A hole in the ventricular septum (wall separating the heart's lower chambers) allows oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor blood to mix, leading to increased blood flow to the lungs.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Echocardiogram, chest X-ray, ECG, cardiac MRI, or cardiac catheterization.

Treatment:
Small VSDs may close on their own; larger defects require surgical repair or catheter-based closure.

Medications:
Diuretics (e.g., furosemide ) to manage fluid overload, ACE inhibitors (e.g., enalapril ) to reduce heart strain, and digoxin to improve heart function.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
The most common congenital heart defect, occurring in 1-3 per 1,000 live births.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Genetic conditions (e.g., Down syndrome), maternal infections, or toxin exposure during pregnancy.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Very good if repaired early; untreated large defects may lead to heart failure or Eisenmenger syndrome.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Pulmonary hypertension, endocarditis, arrhythmias, heart failure.

Tetralogy of Fallot

Specialty: Cardiovascular

Category: Heart Diseases

Sub-category: Congenital Heart Diseases

Symptoms:
cyanosis (bluish skin); shortness of breath; clubbing of fingers and toes; poor weight gain; fainting; heart murmur

Root Cause:
A combination of four defects

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Echocardiogram, chest X-ray (showing a "boot-shaped" heart), ECG, pulse oximetry, cardiac catheterization, or cardiac MRI.

Treatment:
Surgical repair (intracardiac repair) during infancy; temporary shunt placement may be needed for stabilization.

Medications:
Prostaglandins (to keep the ductus arteriosus open in neonates), beta-blockers (e.g., propranolol ) to manage "Tet spells" (cyanotic episodes).

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Occurs in about 1 in 3,000 live births.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Genetic syndromes (e.g., DiGeorge syndrome), maternal rubella or toxin exposure during pregnancy.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with surgery; ongoing monitoring for arrhythmias or pulmonary valve issues is required.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Arrhythmias, pulmonary regurgitation, heart failure, sudden cardiac death.

Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA)

Specialty: Cardiovascular

Category: Heart Diseases

Sub-category: Congenital Heart Diseases

Symptoms:
severe cyanosis shortly after birth; rapid breathing; poor feeding; heart murmur

Root Cause:
The positions of the aorta and pulmonary artery are reversed, causing oxygen-poor blood to circulate to the body and oxygen-rich blood to recirculate to the lungs.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Echocardiogram, chest X-ray (showing "egg on a string" appearance), ECG, or cardiac catheterization.

Treatment:
Prostaglandin E1 to maintain ductus arteriosus patency, balloon atrial septostomy for stabilization, and surgical arterial switch procedure.

Medications:
Prostaglandin E1 (a prostaglandin analog) to maintain ductus arteriosus patency until surgery.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Occurs in approximately 1 in 3,500 live births.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Maternal diabetes, genetic factors, or inadequate prenatal care.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Excellent with timely surgical repair; requires lifelong monitoring for complications.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Arrhythmias, coronary artery problems, heart failure.

Ebstein’s Anomaly

Specialty: Cardiovascular

Category: Heart Diseases

Sub-category: Congenital Heart Diseases

Symptoms:
cyanosis; shortness of breath; heart palpitations; fatigue; heart murmur; swelling in the legs or abdomen

Root Cause:
Malformation of the tricuspid valve, which is displaced downward into the right ventricle, causing abnormal blood flow and heart function.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Echocardiogram, chest X-ray, ECG, or cardiac MRI.

Treatment:
Observation for mild cases, surgical repair or valve replacement for severe cases, and arrhythmia management with medication or catheter ablation.

Medications:
Antiarrhythmic drugs (e.g., amiodarone or sotalol ) to manage arrhythmias; diuretics to manage fluid retention.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare, occurring in about 1 in 20,000 live births.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Maternal lithium use during pregnancy, genetic predisposition.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Varies depending on severity; mild cases may have a near-normal life expectancy, while severe cases require surgical intervention.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Heart failure, arrhythmias, stroke, infective endocarditis.