< Back To Home
/
Congenital Heart Defects - Types

Congenital Heart Defects - Types - Types

There are many types of congenital heart defects. They range from simple to complex and critical. Simple defects, such as atrial septal defect and ventricular septal defects, may have no symptoms and may not require surgery. Complex or critical defects such as hypoplastic left heart syndrome may have severe, life-threatening symptoms. Babies born with a critical congenital heart defect typically have low levels of oxygen soon after birth and need surgery within the first year of life.

Atrial septal defect
- Congenital Heart Defects - Types

An atrial septal defect is a hole in the wall between the atria, which are the two upper chambers of the heart. The hole causes blood to flow from the left atrium and mix with the right atrium, instead of going to the rest of the body. Atrial septal defect is considerered a simple congenital heart defect because the hole may close on its own as the heart grows during childhood, and repair may not be necessary.

**Cross-section of a normal heart and a heart with an atrial septal defect.** Figure A shows the structure and blood flow inside a normal heart. The blue arrow shows the flow of oxygen-poor blood as it is pumped from the body into the right atrium and then to the right ventricle. From there, it pumps through the pulmonary artery to the lungs, where it picks up oxygen. The oxygen-rich blood, shown by the red arrows, flows from the lungs through the pulmonary veins into the left atrium. Figure B shows a heart with an atrial septal defect. The hole allows oxygen-rich blood from the left atrium to mix with the oxygen-poor blood from the right atrium. The mixed blood is shown with a purple arrow.

Patent ductus arteriosus
- Congenital Heart Defects - Types

This common type of simple congenital heart defect occurs when a connection between the heart’s two major arteries does not close properly after birth. This leaves an opening through which blood can flow when it should not. Small openings may close on their own.

**Normal heart and heart with patent ductus arteriosus.** Figure A shows the interior of a normal heart and normal blood flow. The blue arrow shows the flow of oxygen-poor blood as it is pumped from the body into the right atrium and then to the right ventricle. From there, it pumps through the pulmonary artery to the lungs, where it picks up oxygen. The oxygen-rich blood, shown with a red arrow, flows from the lungs through the pulmonary veins into the left atrium. Figure B shows a heart with patent ductus arteriosus. The defect connects the aorta with the pulmonary artery, a connection that should have closed to form the ligamentum arteriosum (see Figure A) at birth. The hole allows oxygen-rich blood from the left atrium to mix with the oxygen-poor blood from the right atrium. The mixed blood is shown with a purple arrow.

Pulmonary stenosis
- Congenital Heart Defects - Types

Pulmonary stenosis is a narrowing of the valve through which blood leaves the heart on its way to the lungs. Visit our Heart Valve Disease Health Topic to learn more. Many children with pulmonary stenosis do not need treatment.

Ventricular septal defect
- Congenital Heart Defects - Types

A ventricular septal defect is a hole in the wall between the ventricles , which are the two lower chambers of the heart. Blood may flow from the left ventricle and mix with blood in the right ventricle, instead of going to the rest of the body. If the hole is large, this may make the heart and lungs work harder and may cause fluid to build up in the lungs.

**Cross-section of a normal heart and a heart with a ventricular septal defect.** Figure A shows the structure and blood flow inside a normal heart. The blue arrow shows the flow of oxygen-poor blood as it is pumped from the body into the right atrium and then to the right ventricle. From there, it pumps through the pulmonary artery to the lungs, where it picks up oxygen. The oxygen-rich blood, shown with a red arrow, flows from the lungs through the pulmonary veins into the left atrium. Figure B shows two common locations for a ventricular septal defect. The defect, or hole, allows oxygen-rich blood from the left ventricle to mix with oxygen-poor blood in the right ventricle before the blood flows into the pulmonary artery. The mixed blood is shown with a purple arrow.

Tetralogy of Fallot
- Congenital Heart Defects - Types

This is the most common complex congenital heart defect. Tetralogy of Fallot is a combination of four defects:

Pulmonary stenosis.
A large ventricular septal defect.
An overriding aorta. With this defect, the aorta is located between the left and right ventricles, directly over the ventricular septal defect. As a result, oxygen-poor blood from the right ventricle can flow directly into the aorta instead of into the pulmonary artery.
Right ventricular hypertrophy. In this case, the muscle of the right ventricle is thicker than usual because it has to work harder than normal.

**Cross-Section of a Normal Heart and a Heart with Tetralogy of Fallot.** Figure A shows the structure and blood flow inside a normal heart. The blue arrow shows the flow of oxygen-poor blood as it is pumped from the body into the right atrium and then to the right ventricle. From there, it pumps through the pulmonary artery to the lungs, where it picks up oxygen. The oxygen-rich blood, shown with a red arrow, flows from the lungs through the pulmonary veins into the left atrium. Figure B shows a heart with the four defects of tetralogy of Fallot, which includes pulmonary stenosis, ventricular septal defect, an overriding aorta, shown in the figure as increased output in the aorta; and a thickened right ventricular hypertrophy. These defects can cause the heart to work harder or allow oxygen-rich blood to mix with oxygen-poor blood. The mixed blood is shown with a purple arrow.

Other critical congenital heart defects
- Congenital Heart Defects - Types

Common congenital heart defects include:

Coarctation of the aorta
Double-outlet right ventricle
D-transposition of the great arteries
Ebstein’s anomaly
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome
Interrupted aortic arch
Pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum
Single ventricle
Total anomalous pulmonary venous return
Tricuspid atresia
Truncus arteriosus

Congenital Heart Defects - Types - Types

Atrial septal defect - Congenital Heart Defects - Types

Patent ductus arteriosus - Congenital Heart Defects - Types

Pulmonary stenosis - Congenital Heart Defects - Types

Ventricular septal defect - Congenital Heart Defects - Types

Tetralogy of Fallot - Congenital Heart Defects - Types

Other critical congenital heart defects - Congenital Heart Defects - Types