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Complications
By Mayo Clinic staffFor serious congenital heart defects, it's necessary for your child to receive treatment soon after birth to avoid serious problems. Fortunately, most serious heart defects are found soon after birth, and sometimes are detected even before your baby is born.
Some of the potential complications that can occur with a congenital heart defect include:
- Congestive heart failure. This serious complication, which makes it difficult for the heart to pump blood to the body, usually develops in the first six months after birth in babies who have a significant heart defect. Signs of congestive heart failure include rapid breathing, often with gasping breaths, and poor weight gain.
- Slower growth and development. Children with congenital heart defects often develop and grow more slowly than do children who don't have heart defects. Your child may be smaller than other children of the same age, and if the nervous system has been affected, may learn to walk and talk later than other children.
- Emotional issues. Some children with congenital heart defects may feel insecure or develop emotional problems because of their size, activity restrictions or learning difficulties. Talk to your child's doctor if you're concerned about your child's moods.
- A need for lifelong follow-up. Treatment for children who have congenital heart defects may not end with surgeries or medication while they're young. Children who have heart defects should be mindful of their heart problems their entire lives, as their defect could have complications, such as increased risk of heart tissue infection (endocarditis), heart failure or heart valve problems.
- Congenital heart defects. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/chd/chd_all.html. Accessed Aug. 18, 2010.
- Fulton DR. Congenital heart disease in children and adolescents. In: Fuster V, et al. Hurst's The Heart. 12th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=3077940&searchStr=congenital+heart+disease#3077940. Accessed Aug. 18, 2010.
- Bernstein D. Cardiac development. In: Kliegman RM, et al. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/215591989-8/0/1608/989.html?tocnode=54482815&fromURL=989.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2450-7..X5001-4--part19_8078. Accessed Aug. 20, 2010.
- Congenital heart defects. March of Dimes. http://www.pregnancynewborn.com/printableArticles/14332_1212.asp. Accessed Aug. 18, 2010.
- Congenital cardiovascular defects. American Heart Association. http://www.americanheart.org/print_presenter.jhtml?identifier=4565. Accessed Aug. 18, 2010.
- Hoecker J (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Aug. 23, 2010.
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