The extra blood flow to the lungs causes high pressure and forces the heart to work harder. There are two types of AVSD: complete and incomplete. Complete AVSD occurs when there is a large hole in the center of the heart which allows blood to flow between all four quarters of the heart. In typically developing hearts, there are two separate valves in the center of the heart called the tricuspid valve and the mitral valve. In complete AVSD, these two valves fail to separate, and there is only one valve. The single valve often has flaps that do not close tightly, allowing blood to leak through. Incomplete AVSD occurs when a heart has some but not all of the features of a complete AVSD. There is usually a smaller hole that doesn’t span across all four quarters of the heart. Both the tricuspid and mitral valves are formed, but one may not close completely allowing blood to leak through. Ventricular Septal DefectĪ ventricular septal defect occurs when there is a hole in the wall that separates the two lower quarters of the heart. In typical development, the right side of the heart pumps blood from the heart to the lungs to get oxygen, then the left side of the heart pumps the oxygenated blood to the rest of the body. In a child with a ventricular septal defect, blood often flows from the left side of the heart through the hole to the right side of the heart and into the lungs. This extra blood going back to the lungs forces the heart and lungs to work harder to pump it to the rest of the body. Sometimes, small ventricular septal defects will close on their own. If the hole is large or doesn’t close on its own, surgery may be needed. The “ductus arteriosus” is an opening between two major blood vessels in the heart. While a baby is in the womb, the ductus arteriosus diverts blood away from the lungs because prenatal blood already has oxygen from the mother. This opening usually closes shortly after birth. If it does not, it is called “persistent”. If the persistent opening is very small, no treatment may be needed. If the opening is large enough, potential treatments include medications and surgery. The muscular wall of the lower right quarter of the heart is thicker than normalĪn enlarged aorta, which carries blood from the left side of the heart to the rest of the body Ventricular septal defect (hole in the wall between the two lower quarters of the heart)Ī narrowing of the passage from the right side of the heart to the lungs Tetralogy of Fallot is made up of four conditions occurring at once: An untreated persistent ductus arteriosus can cause conditions including high blood pressure in the lungs, heart infection, and eventual heart failure. Tetralogy of Fallot is considered a critical congenital heart condition because the child could need surgery soon after birth. Tetralogy of Fallot reduces the amount of oxygen in the body causing potentially serious problems. These include heart infection, irregular heartbeats, dizziness, fainting, seizures, and delayed growth. The health care guidelines mentioned below help define the standards of quality care for individuals with Down syndrome. They include specific recommendations for screening tests, information about common medical conditions, suggestions for early intervention, diet and exercise and other issues across the lifespan.
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