Gastroschisis
Gastroschisis is a congenital (present at birth) defect that occurs when a baby’s intestines stick out of the body through a defect on one side of the umbilical cord. The defect is located where the umbilical cord meets the baby’s body and is almost always to the right of the cord. Babies with this condition
Read MoreSpina Bifida
Spina bifida is a birth defect in which the backbone and spinal canal do not close before birth. It is classified as a type of neural tube defect. Normally the neural tube forms early and closes within the first month of pregnancy. When a portion of the neural tube fails to develop or close properly,
Read MoreCoarctation of the Aorta
Coarctation of Aorta, or aortic coarctation, is a congenital defect that occurs when the aorta is narrowed. The aorta is the large blood vessel that delivers oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the body’s tissues. When this blood vessel is narrowed, the baby’s heart has to work much harder to pump blood to the body. The
Read MoreVentricular Septal Defect
A ventricular septal defect (VSD) describes a congenital (present at birth) defect in which there are one or more holes in the wall (septum) that separates the right and left ventricles of the heart. VSD is one of the most common congenital heart defects, occurring either by itself or with other birth defects. The septum
Read MoreTransposition of the Great Arteries
Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA) or Vessels is a rare congenital (present at birth) heart defect in which the two main arteries – the aorta and the pulmonary artery – that carry blood away from the heart are reversed (transposed). Normally the artery rises from the right ventricle and the aorta from the left,
Read MoreTetralogy of Fallot
Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is a congenital (present at birth) heart defect, which occurs when the following four related defects of the heart and its major blood vessels are diagnosed: Ventricular septal defect (VSD): one or more holes in the wall that separates the ventricles Pulmonary stenosis (PS): narrowing of the pulmonary valve and the artery
Read MoreRight Ventricular Outflow Tract Obstruction
Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Obstruction (RVOTO) represents a variety of disorders and is usually found as a part of a tetralogy of Fallot, Williams syndrome, Noonan syndrome or in conjunction with an ASD. Babies with an RVOTO experience a blockage or obstruction in the right ventricular outflow tract. Pulmonary atresia and pulmonary valve stenosis are two
Read MorePersistent Pulmonary Hypertension in Newborns
Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension in Newborns (PPHN) occurs when a baby’s circulation system fails to transition from the way it operated in the uterus to how it needs to perform after birth. In the womb, a baby’s circulation bypasses the lungs when oxygen travels through the umbilical cord to the baby’s body through a blood vessel
Read MoreHypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) is a rare congenital defect in which the left side of the heart is incompletely developed (hypoplastic). In an unaffected heart, low-oxygen blood is pumped by the right side of the heart to the lungs. It is then oxygenated and pumped back through the left side of the heart to
Read MoreDouble Outlet Right Ventricle
Double Outlet of the Right Ventricle (DORV) is a congenital (present at birth) defect that occurs when both great arteries connect to the right ventricle. Arteries are the large blood vessels that are connected to the heart; normally, one artery brings low-oxygen blood from the heart to the lungs to be re-oxygenated and one carries
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