There are many different types of congenital heart disease (CHD), but some of the most common include:
Atrial septal defect (ASD): A hole in the wall (septum) that separates the upper chambers (atria) of the heart.
Ventricular septal defect (VSD): A hole in the wall (septum) that separates the lower chambers (ventricles) of the heart.
Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA): A blood vessel that allows blood to bypass the lungs before birth but fails to close after birth. It’s open while a baby is growing in the womb, and typically closes a few hours after birth. But in some babies, it stays open, causing incorrect blood flow between the two arteries.
Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF): A combination of four heart defects that includes a VSD, a narrowed pulmonary valve, an enlarged right ventricle, and an abnormal positioning of the aorta.
Coarctation of the aorta: Narrowing of the aorta, the major blood vessel that carries oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the rest of the body.
These five types of CHD are considered some of the most common, but there are many other types of CHD, some of which are very rare. Some CHD are mild and some are complex, and the severity of the CHD can vary greatly from person to person.
It’s important to work closely with a healthcare team that includes cardiologists, surgeons, and other specialists to manage and treat CHD, as well as to monitor the patient’s health and quality of life.