Common congenital heart defects

Congenital heart defects are abnormalities that develop before birth. They can occur in the heart's chambers, valves or blood vessels. A baby may be born with only one defect or several that tend to occur in combination. Of the dozens of heart defects, some are mild and may need minimal or no medical treatment even through adulthood, while others are life-threatening, either immediately to the newborn or over time. Here's a look at some of the more common congenital heart defects. Compare them to the normal human heart, shown here.