What it means
An abnormal shape or opening in the heart, its valves or its large blood vessels that formed before birth. It is the most common kind of birth defect. Some defects let blood flow between the two sides of the heart, such as an atrial septal defectAY-tree-ul SEP-tul DEE-fektA hole in the wall between the two upper chambers of the heart.atri/o atrium (upper heart chamber)sept/o wall, partition-al relating toFull entry or a ventricular septal defectven-TRIK-yuh-ler SEP-tul DEE-fektA hole in the wall between the heart's two lower chambers, present from birth.Full entry ; others block flow or change its path, as in tetralogy of Fallotteh-TRAL-uh-jee uv fuh-LOHA congenital heart defect made up of four problems in the structure of the heart.tetra- four-logy a set or studyFull entry . Some close on their own; others need surgery or a catheter procedure.
For the nurse
In an infant, watch for poor feeding, sweating or tiring while feeding, fast breathing, poor weight gain and a bluish color (cyanosis). Newborns are screened with pulse oximetry before they go home.
At a glance
| Abbreviations | CHD |
|---|---|
| Also written | congenital heart defects |
Related terms
cyanosis
A blue or gray color of the skin, lips or nail beds.
atrial septal defect
A hole in the wall between the two upper chambers of the heart.
patent ductus arteriosus
A heart defect in which the ductus arteriosus, a blood vessel between the aorta and pulmonary artery, stays open after birth.
ventricular septal defect
A hole in the wall between the heart's two lower chambers, present from birth.
tetralogy of Fallot
A congenital heart defect made up of four problems in the structure of the heart.