Heart Conditions

Patient Education

This portion of our website provides information about specific types of congenital heart disease. These are the most common heart conditions. Below are just some of the heart conditions we care for.

Aortic Valve Stenosis

A valve from the heart to the body that does not properly open and close and may also leak blood. When the blood flowing out from the heart is trapped by a poorly working valve, pressure may build up inside the heart and cause damage.

Atrial Septal Defect (ASD)

ASD is a "hole" in the wall that separates the top two chambers of the heart.

Atrioventricular Septal Defect (AVSD)

Atrioventricular (AV) canal defect is a large hole in the center of the heart. It's located where the wall (septum) between the upper chambers (atria) joins the wall between the lower chambers (ventricles). This condition is also known as: Atrioventricular Canal Defect and Endocardial Cushon Defect.

Coarctation of the Aorta

In this condition the aorta (the main artery that carries blood from the heart to the body) is narrowed or constricted.

D-Transposition of the Great Arteries

A heart in which the two main arteries carrying blood away from the heart are reversed.

Ebstein's Anomaly

A malformed heart valve that does not properly close to keep the blood flow moving in the right direction. Blood may leak back from the lower to upper chambers on the right side of the heart.

Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS)

An underdeveloped left side of the heart. The aorta and left ventricle are too small and the holes in the artery and septum did not properly mature and close.

L-Transposition of the Great Arteries (Ventricular Inversion)

A heart in which the lower section is fully reversed.

Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)

An unclosed hole in the aorta.

Pulmonary Atresia with Intact Ventricular Septum

The pulmonary valve does not exist, and the only blood receiving oxygen is the blood that is diverted to the lungs through openings that normally close during development.

Pulmonary Valve Stenosis

A thickened or fused heart valve that does not fully open. The pulmonary valve allows blood to flow out of the heart, into the pulmonary artery and then to the lungs.

Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF)

A heart defect that features four problems. They are: a hole between the lower chambers of the heart an obstruction from the heart to the lungs The aorta (blood vessel) lies over over the hole in the lower chambers The muscle surrounding the lower right chamber becomes overly thickened.

Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection (TAPVC)

A defect in the veins leading from the lungs to the heart. In TAPVC, the blood does not take the normal route from the lungs to the heart and out to the body. Instead, the veins from the lungs attach to the heart in abnormal positions and this problem means that oxygenated blood enters or leaks into the wrong chamber.

Tricuspid Atresia

There is no tricuspid valve in the heart so blood cannot flow from the body into the heart in the normal way. The blood is not being properly refilled with oxygen it does not complete the normal cycle of body -heart –lungs- heart - body.

Truncus Arteriosus

When a person has one large artery instead of two separate ones to carry blood to the lungs and body.

Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD)

VSD is a hole in the wall separating the two lower chambers of the heart.

Reference Links

Please note: The links above (external links) are provided for reference and educational purpose only. CDPCA does not provide or guarantee the accuracy of any content contained therein.