What Are Adult Congenital Heart Defects?

The heart is a highly complex organ that sometimes does not develop properly in the fetus. About one in 100 babies are born with congenital heart disease. In most cases, the cause of the defect is unknown. Thanks to advances in medical and surgical care, however, the first generations of children with congenital heart defects are now surviving — and thriving — into adulthood. In fact, the number of adult patients with congenital heart disease is now greater than those under age 20.

Most congenital heart defects affect only one part of the heart or one major blood vessel. Sometimes, multiple heart defects are present. Congenital heart defects include:

• Cyanotic defects
  • Hypoplastic left heart syndrome
  • Pulmonary atresia
  • Tetralogy of Fallot
  • Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection
  • Transposition of the great arteries
  • Tricuspid atresia
  • Truncus ateriosus
• Congenital valve defects
  • Aortic valve defects
  • Mitral valve defects
  • Pulmonary valve stenosis
  • Tricuspid valve defects
• Coarctation of the aorta
• Septal defects
  • Atrial septal defects
    • Eisenmenger’s syndrome
    • Ebstein’s anomaly
  • Atrioventricular septal defects
  • Ventricular septal defects
• Pregnancy and adult congenital heart defects

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