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Congenital Heart Defects
What are congenital heart defects?
Congenital heart defects are the most common type of birth defect. They affect eight out of every 1,000 newborns. Each year, more than 40,000 babies in the United States are born with congenital heart defects. Congenital heart defects are problems with the heart's structure which are present at birth.
Congenital heart defects can involve the interior walls of the heart, the valves inside the heart, or the arteries and veins that carry blood to the heart or out to the body. Congenital heart defects change the normal flow of blood throughout the heart.
Severe heart defects generally are found during pregnancy or soon after birth.
What causes congenital heart defects?
Exposure to teratogens can result in a wide range of birth defects including congenital heart defects like ventricular septal defect (VSD).
Substances with teratogenic effects can damage the DNA of your developing fetus. It is estimated that 10% of all birth defects are caused by prenatal exposure to a teratogenic agent including but not limited to -- medication or drug exposures, maternal infections and diseases, and environmental and occupational exposures.
5 common congenital heart defects:
- Ventricular septal defect (VSD)
- Transposition of the great vessels
- Coarctation of aorta
- Tetralogy of Fallot
- Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS)
What is the treatment for congenital heart defects?
As with almost any condition that affects the body, treatment is often dictated by the type of defect affecting the heart. For some, no treatment is necessary, as the defect itself will "clear up" on its own. For others, a surgery is frequently needed to correct the abnormality and allow the heart and vascular system to function as normal. Medications may only be needed for minor defects while heart transplants may be required in severely damaged hearts.
Has your baby suffered congenital heart defects because you were prescribed dangerous drugs during your first trimester?
If the answer is yes - please contact the Anapol Schwartz law firm to find out what your legal options are.