Congenital Heart Diseases (CHD)
Each year, between 2,400 and 3,000 Australian babies are born with a form of congenital heart disease. It is the most common congenital disorder in newborns affecting up to 1 in 100 births.
What is Congenital Heart Disease?
Congenital heart disease (CHD) (also known as congenital heart defects) refers to problems with the heart’s structure that are present from birth.
CHD is the most common congenital disorder in newborns, impacting approximately 8-10 in 1000 live births. Like most forms of CoHD, CHD and how it impacts someone can vary wildly. CHD may be simple or complex.
A person may have a single form of CHD, or multiple. Some forms of CHD may require treatment, while others will not.
Regardless of severity, long-term care and monitoring of heart condition is important for most people with CHD, to ensure any need for additional treatment or intervention is identified.
Aortic Valve Disease
Aortic valve disease (AVD) is a condition in which the valve between the main pumping chamber of your heart (left ventricle) and the main artery to your body (aorta) doesn’t work properly.
Learn about Aortic Valve Disease
Atrial Septal Defect (ASD)
Atrial septal defect (ASD) occurs when there is a hole in the wall (septum) that divides the upper chambers (atria) of the heart.
Atrio-ventricular Septal Defect (AVSD)
Atrio-ventricular septal defect (AVSD) is a defect in which there are holes between the chambers of the right and left sides of the heart, and the valves that control the flow of blood between these chambers may not be formed correctly.
Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle that makes it harder for the heart to pump blood to the rest of the body.
Learn more about Cardiomyopathy.
Coarctation of the Aorta
Coarctation of the aorta is also called aortic narrowing. If your aorta is narrow, it means your heart must pump harder to force blood through the narrow part.
Cyanotic Congenital Disease (CCHD)
Cyanotic congenital heart disease (CCHD) refers to a group of many different heart defects that result in a low blood oxygen level.
Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS)
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) is a severe congenital heart defect in which the left side of the heart is underdeveloped or too small.
Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome (HRHS)
Hypoplastic right heart syndrome (HRHS) is a range of congenital defects in which the right-sided structures of the heart are underdeveloped or not formed.
Mitral Valve Disease
Mitral valve disease occurs when the mitral valve doesn’t work properly, allowing blood to flow backward into the left atrium.
Persistent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)
Persistent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is the name of the tube that carries blood between the aorta and the pulmonary artery in the foetus.
Learn about problems that can occur with the Ductus Arteriosus
Pulmonary Atresia
Pulmonary atresia is when the plumonary valve doesn’t form, and no blood can go from the right ventricle of the heart out to the lungs.
Pulmonary Stenosis
Pulmonary stenosis (also called pulmonic stenosis) is when the pulmonary valve (the valve between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery) is too small, narrow, or stiff.
Pulmonary Valve Disease
Pulmonary valve disease is a condition in which the pulmonary valve doesn’t work properly. This condition can interrupt blood flow from the heart to your lungs.
Single Ventricle Pathology
Single ventricle pathology occurs when one lower chamber (ventricle) does not develop.
Tetralogy of Fallot (ToF)
Tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) is a rare but serious congenital heart defect that is made up of four different defects. When a baby is born with ToF, they have four heart defects.
Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD)
Ventricular septal defect (VSD) means there is a hole in the heart. The hole occurs in the wall (septum) that separates the heart’s lower chambers (ventricles) and allows blood to pass from the left to the right side of the heart.
Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA)
Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA) is a birth defect in which the two main arteries carrying blood out of the heart (the main pulmonary artery and the aorta) are switched in position, or ‘transposed.’
