One kind of congenital cardiac malfunction that results in aberrant blood flow is called acyanotic heart disease. It could be minor or really serious. Babies suffering from this illness may appear lethargic and short of breath.
Birth abnormalities affecting the heart are referred to as congenital heart disease. They are the most prevalent kind of birth malformations, affecting 40,000 babies, or almost 1% of all births in the US annually.
The two main classifications of congenital cardiac disease are cyanotic and acyanotic. Acyanotic disorders, which include ventricular septal defect (VSD) and atrial septal defect (ASD), are the most prevalent type.
Continue reading to find out more about the various types of acyanotic heart disease, its diagnosis, and its treatment.
Cyanotic vs. acyanotic
Congenital cardiac defects fall into two categories: cyanotic and acyanotic.
Acyanotic accounts for roughly 75% of cases, which is more prevalent. About 25% of infants with congenital heart disease have cyanotic heart disease.
Acyanotic
Acyanotic heart disease is characterised by cardiac abnormalities that result in aberrant blood flow but normal blood oxygen levels. Although this disorder does not cause any symptoms to appear right away, health issues may eventually arise in newborns.
Increased blood pressure from abnormal blood flow can strain the heart. The heart may get weaker as a result, raising the risk of heart failure.
Pulmonary hypertension, or very high blood pressure in the lungs, is another possible consequence. It may result in symptoms like:
- breathlessness
- fatigue
- dizziness
- fainting
Cyanotic
Heart abnormalities that result in irregular blood flow and low blood oxygen levels are referred to as cyanotic heart disease.
Some parts of the skin may seem blue due to low oxygen levels in the circulation. This disease can cause bluish fingers, toes, lips, or skin in newborns.
Additional signs and symptoms could be:
- breathlessness
- fatigue
- palpitations
- chest pain
- fainting
Types of acyanotic heart disease
Acyanotic heart abnormalities can impact the heart's walls, valves, or blood arteries in several different ways. The most typical kinds consist of:
Ventricular septal defect
A ventricle or aperture in the wall dividing the heart's two lower chambers is known as a ventriculoventricular septal defect (VSD). We refer to these spaces as ventricles.
Atrial septal defect
A hole or gap in the wall between the heart's two upper chambers is known as an atrial septal defect (ASD). We refer to these spaces as atria.
Pulmonary valve stenosis
One of the four valves that aid in controlling blood flow in the heart is the pulmonary valve. Blood can move from the right ventricle to the artery that supplies blood to the lungs thanks to it.
Narrowing of the pulmonary valve results in pulmonary valve stenosis. This implies that pumping blood requires more effort from the right ventricle.
Aortic valve stenosis
The primary artery that carries blood from the heart to the body is the aorta, and the aortic valve opens to allow blood to flow from the left ventricle to it.
The aortic valve narrows due to aortic valve stenosis. The left ventricle has to work harder as a result to pump blood to the body.
Patent ductus ateriosus
An open hole in the aorta is known as a patent ductus ateriosus (PDA). The aorta may pump more blood into the lung arteries as a result of this.
Congestion in the lungs may result from the heart and lungs having to work harder.
Symptoms
The type and severity of the abnormality determine the acyanotic heart disease symptoms. Acyanotic heart disease may not always cause symptoms to appear until later in life, such as in childhood or adulthood.
While less serious flaws might not show any signs, more serious flaws might produce the following symptoms:
- fast heartbeat
- shortness of breath
- sleepiness
- trouble feeding
Causes
Although the specific cause of congenital cardiac abnormalities is unknown, experts believe that a mix of environmental and genetic variables plays a role.
Among the possible contributing elements are:
- family genetic history
- pregnancy-related exposure to dangerous chemicals or air pollution
- the birthing parent’s diet
- diseases including diabetes, obesity, or high blood pressure that can arise during pregnancy
- infections during pregnancy
- using prescription drugs while pregnant
- smoking during pregnancy
Diagnosis
Foetal echocardiograms, a form of ultrasound, are increasingly used to diagnose several congenital heart problems during pregnancy. Images of the developing baby's heart are produced as a result.
On the other hand, certain congenital cardiac abnormalities are identified postnatally, in childhood, or even as adults.
Treatment
The kind and degree of the cardiac abnormality determine the course of treatment. While some infants and children may simply require nonsurgical therapies, others may require surgery to repair their heart or blood arteries.
A process known as cardiac catheterization is one choice. A lengthy tube known as a catheter is inserted by the doctor into the heart through the blood arteries during this surgery. This is what they can use to measure, test, and fix any problems.
Even if some cardiac problems are incurable, treatment may nevertheless enhance cardiac function and blood flow. Many congenital cardiac defect sufferers require specialised long-term care.
Outlook
80% of kids with congenital cardiac illness survive into adulthood.
The prognosis for newborns and kids with congenital cardiac disease is determined by:
- the degree of the flaw
- when the diagnosis is established
- the defect's treatment
Approximately 1 in 4 infants with congenital heart disease have a serious congenital heart defect, according to the National Centre on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities. According to estimates, 69% of infants born with serious abnormalities survive to be at least 18 years old.
In contrast, 95% of newborns with non-critical congenital cardiac defects survive to be 18 years old.
The bottom line
One kind of congenital cardiac defect that can influence blood flow is acyanotic heart disease, which can vary in severity.
Certain faults can be fixed by doctors through surgery or other procedures, but not all defects can be fully repaired. Nevertheless, many newborns with congenital heart abnormalities can have long, healthy lives thanks to a variety of treatment choices.
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