Congenital Heart Defects

What is a congenital heart defect (CHD)?

A先天性心脏缺陷(冠心病)is a structural problem of the heart that develops during pregnancy. About one out of 100 babies is born with a congenital heart defect. There are many types of congenital heart defects, ranging from simple to complex. Most are diagnosed and treated early in infancy.

我们如何照顾先天性心脏缺陷

The Boston Children's HospitalBenderson Family Heart Center专门研究出生前后先天性心脏缺陷的整个范围，并在我们的成年期间Adult Congenital Heart Program.

我们认为的一些最常见的CHD包括：

• atrial septal defect (ASD)
• 房室的管道缺陷
• ventricular septal defect (VSD)
• 大动脉（TGA）的转位
• coarctation of the aorta
• tetralogy of Fallot

See acomplete listof all the congenital heart defects we care for.

What are the symptoms of a congenital heart defect?

Symptoms of congenital heart defects in infants and children include:

• cyanosis(a bluish tint to the skin, fingernails, and lips)
• respiratory distress
• poor feeding
• poor weight gain
• recurrent lung infections
• less ability to exercise or play actively compared to other children

What causes congenital heart disease?

Many congenital heart diseases in babies have a genetic cause. Some known associations include:

• chromosome abnormalities, such asDown syndrome,三体第18和三体术13, andTurner syndrome
• 微骨骼或微塑料综合征，例如DiGeorge syndrome
• single gene defects
• environmental factors

If you have a congenital heart defect, we recommend you speak with agenetic counselor或者genetic specialist before becoming pregnant.

How are congenital heart defects diagnosed?

In some cases, congenital heart defects are discovered before a baby is born during a胎儿超声. Some types of complex congenital heart defects are apparent shortly after birth. Less severe defects may not be found until the child is older. Some congenital heart defects are discovered after the doctor hears a心杂音.

What are the tests for congenital heart disease?

Depending on the child’s CHD symptoms or heart murmur, the doctor may order one or more of the following tests to diagnose a congenital heart defect:

• electrocardiogram
• 超声心动图(cardiac ultrasound)
• chestX射线
• 心脏磁共振成像（MRI）或者computed tomography (CT)
• cardiac catheterization
• 遗传分析的血液测试

If your child has been diagnosed with a chromosomal or other genetic abnormality, genetic counseling is helpful to determine the risk of heart defects for other children you may have in the future.

What are the treatment options for congenital heart defects?

Treatment is based on the specific type of congenital heart defect your child has and the severity of the defect. Some mild heart defects don't need any treatment. Others can be treated with medications, interventional procedures, or surgery.

In some cases, if a congenital heart defect is found prenatally, it’s possible to perform a procedure on the child before they are born.

What is the long-term outlook for congenital heart defects?

The outlook for congenital heart defects is increasingly positive, even for the most complex problems. For more details about your child’s heart defect,ob 官网 for the specific condition or visit ourBenderson Family Heart Centerpage.