What are some common congenital heart defects?
A. Atrial and ventricular septal defects are holes in the heart which affect the blood supply out of the heart. Patent ductus arteriosus, a common defect in premature infants, occurs when blood flows between the aorta and the pulmonary artery through an open passageway which normally closes within a few hours of birth. Pulmonary, aortic and subaortic stenosis and coarctation of the aorta are obstructions which restrict blood supply to the rest of the body. Tetrology of Fallot has four components, a ventricular septal defect (VSD), pulmonary valve stenosis, an abnormally muscular right ventricle and the placement of the aorta directly above the VSD. Common acquired diseases include cardiomyopathy, or heart muscle abnormalities, viral myocarditis and arrhythmias.
