Structural Defects or Birth Defects

Congestive heart failure (CHF) as a result of left-to-right shunts, and, more rarely, left ventricular dysfunction, may present with an insidious onset of symptoms. The structural lesions most often associated with CHF include ventricular septal defect, atrioventricular canal, large patent ductus arteriosis, myocarditis, cardiomyopathy, and anomalous origin of the coronary arteries.

Causes

The most common causes of structural defects :

• Heart muscle disease
• Congenital heart disease
• Environmental chemicals such as fungicides, food additives, and pollutants are suspected of causing birth defects,
• Exposure of the mother to high levels of radiation
• Less commonly, heart damage may be caused by infection

Symptoms

• Poor feeding
• Crying
• Irritability

Signs

• Sweating with feeding
• Poor weight gain
• Lethargy
• Tachypnea
• Pallor
• Diastolic rumble at the apex, murmur, S3 gallop, and hepatomegaly
• Oliguria
• Poor peripheral perfusion may result from excess sympathetic stimulation and cause peripheral vasoconstriction with cool, pale skin. Poor peripheral perfusion also can cause sluggish capillary refill or weak pulses.
• Rales are often absent.
• Hypotension is a late sign of shock in infants.

Treatment

Treatment depends on the type of birth defect and how serious it is. When an abnormality has been identified before birth, delivery can be planned at a health care facility that is prepared to offer any special care needed. Some abnormalities can be corrected with surgery. Experimental procedures have been used successfully in correcting some defects, like excessive fluid in the brain (hydrocephalus), even before the baby is born.

Prevention

Pregnant women should eat a nutritious diet. Taking folic acid supplements before and during pregnancy reduces the risk of having a baby with serious problems of the brain or spinal chord (neural tube defects). Pregnant women is not to take alcohol, all illicit drugs and smoking.