Cardiac Anomalies Treatment

A cardiac anomaly, which may be known in the medical field as a congenital heart defect, is a birth defect relating to the heart. While some are not that serious and require little to no medical attention, and others resolve themselves over time, some cardiac anomalies are extremely serious and require immediate care and treatment. Determining treatment options for heart defects is usually left to cardiologists and are based upon the nature and seriousness of the anomaly.

Ebsteins's Anomaly

• Abnormalities in the tricuspid valve, which separates the right atrium (the area that receives blood flow) from the right ventricle, are known as Ebstein's Anomaly. In such cases, the deformed valve either impedes blood flow or blocks it altogether, resulting in a heart that is working at far less than the functionality of a healthy one. Pressure in the right atrium can build in these instances, which may cause blood to reach the body that is low in oxygen. X-rays and cardiograms can determine whether a patient suffers this condition. Ebstein's Anomaly may be treated in less serious cases with prophylaxis, while more serious cases require surgical repair or replacement of the tricuspid valve. More than 80 percent of cases survive to age 20 following surgery.

Ventricular Septal Defect

• One of the most common anomalies is the Ventricular Septal Defect, also known as a VSD. A VSD simply means a tiny hole in the heart muscle between the left and right chambers. These defects are usually noticed in infants when a pediatrician or cardiologist recognizes a murmur during routine postnatal care. Fortunately, VSDs are most often taken care of naturally as an infant grows---the heart repairs the hole over time and it ceases to be a health concern. In situations where the hole does not repair itself, a VSD will rarely lead to more serious heart conditions. Some rare cases see a VSD develop into a long-term issue; in general, these situations can exacerbate other heart conditions. If blood pressure to the right and left sides of the heart do not equalize over time and with preventive care, a VSD may develop into congestive heart failure, a condition which must be treated immediately. Such a problem will require surgery, often in the early months following the birth of the child.

Interrupted Aortic Arch

• The aorta is the main blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart to the rest of the body, carting oxygen to the lower portion of the body through a passageway known as the aortic arch. When this arch is defective or missing entirely, the condition is known as "interrupted aortic arch," or IAA. IAA develops from the fifth to the seventh week of development, and is first treated with prostaglandin infusion, which keeps the arteries open and allows oxygen to reach the body until surgery. Surgery for this condition is aimed at creating or repairing a tube that closes the defect. Open-heart surgery is the necessary procedure in such situations. The risk of complication is higher than with other heart surgeries; however, without treatment, a patient will die before reaching adulthood.