- aneurysm
-
a thin, weakened area in a blood vessel or chamber of the heart.
See also Critical care (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit); Surgery (general)
- aorta
-
the blood vessel that delivers oxygen-rich blood from the left ventricle to the rest of the body; the largest blood vessel in the body.
- aortic valve
-
the valve that lies between the left ventricle (lower chamber) and the aorta; it has three cusps (flaps). During ventricular systole (contraction), pressure rises in the left ventricle. When this pressure rises above the pressure in the aorta, the aortic valve opens, allowing blood to exit the left ventricle into the aorta. When ventricular systole ends, pressure in the left ventricle drops. As this pressure decreases, the aortic pressure pressure forces the aortic valve to close.
- arrhythmia (also called dysrhythmia)
-
a fast, slow or irregular heartbeat. Fetal arrhythmias are diagnosed before birth by ultrasound exams.
See also Arrhythmia; Cardiology; Institute for Fetal Health
- atrial septal defect (ASD)
-
a hole in the wall between the right and left atria (the two upper chambers of the heart). Fetal ASDs are found on prenatal ultrasound exam and confirmed by echocardiogram.
See also Institute for Fetal Health
- cardiac (heart) arrhythmia
-
abnormal rhythm of the heart beat. Fetal cardiac arrhythmias are diagnosed before birth by an ultrasound exam of the pregnant mother.
See also Cardiology; Critical care (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit); Heart transplant program; Institute for Fetal Health
- cardiovascular
-
refers to systems involving the heart and blood vessels, including arterial and venous problems
See also Cardiology patient recalls her Children’s Memorial experience from 50 years ago; Telemedicine helps doctors tackle Kyle's heart defect
- closed heart surgery
-
refers to heart surgery that is performed without a heart/lung maching. A small incision on the side of the chest is made, and the heart is not cut open.
See also Coarctation of the aorta; Truncus arteriosus
- coarctation of the aorta
-
a congenital heart abnormality in which narrowing occurs in the largest blood vessel leading away from the heart. Fetal coarctation of the aorta can be suggested before birth by ultrasound and confirmed by echocardiogram.
See also Institute for Fetal Health
- congenital heart disease
-
a heart problem present at birth, caused by improper development of the heart during fetal development. Fetal diagnosis of heart disease can be made before birth by ultrasound examination.
See also Atrial septal defect; Cardiology; Coarctation of the aorta; Heart transplant program; Hypoplastic left heart syndrome; Institute for Fetal Health; Neonatology (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit); Patent ductus arteriosus; Ventricular septal defect
- coronary arteries
-
two arteries that come from the aorta, then arch down over the top of the heart and branch out to provide blood to the working heart muscle.
- echocardiogram (echo)
-
a diagnostic method in which pulses of high-frequency sound, called ultrasound, are transmitted into the body; the echoes returning from the heart and other structures are made into an electronic picture. These pictures are then studied for diagnostic purposes.
See also Institute for Fetal Health; Treatment for Kawasaki disease; Kajsa battles hypoplastic left heart syndrome; Telemedicine helps doctors tackle Kyle's heart defect
- Fontan procedure
-
surgery performed to repair heart defects in which only one ventricle is working. It connects the right atrium to the pulmonary artery, allowing oxygen-poor blood from the body to flow into the lungs.
See also Hypoplastic left heart syndrome; Institute for Fetal Health
- heart failure and cardiomyopathy
-
a history and physical examination that suggests that the child's heart is unable to meet the body's demands either at rest or with exertion
See also Cardiology; Heart transplant program; Jonathan's new heart (video)
- heart valves
-
valves in the heart that prevent blood from flowing the wrong way.
See also My son's open heart surgery
- heart-lung machine
-
a special instrument used to provide circulation to the body during open heart surgery.
See also About heart surgery
- hypoplastic left heart
-
abnormally small growth of the heart's major pumping chamber. Fetal hypoplastic left heart is diagnosed by ultrasound and requires special preparations for optimal care at delivery.
See also Cardiology; Critical care (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit); Institute for Fetal Health; Kajsa battles hypoplastic left heart syndrome
- inferior vena cava
-
a large blood vessel (vein) that carries de-oxygenated blood from the lower half of the body into the heart. The vein connects to the heart at a valve attached to the right atrium.
- left atrium
-
the upper left-hand chamber of the heart; receives oxygen-rich blood from the lungs via the pulmonary veins and pumps it through the mitral valve into the left ventricle.
- left ventricle
-
the lower left-hand chamber of the heart; receives oxygen-rich blood from the left atrium and pumps it through the aortic valve to be delivered throughout the body, including to the heart muscle itself.
- mitral valve
-
the heart valve between the left atrium (upper chamber) and the left ventricle (lower chamber); it has two cusps ("flaps").
- mitral valve prolapse
-
an abnormality of the valve between the left atrium and left ventricle of the heart that causes a backward flow of blood from the left ventricle into the left atrium.
- myocardial ischemia
-
a term used to describe insufficient blood flow to part of the heart.
- open heart surgery
-
surgery performed inside the heart with the aid of a heart-lung machine.
- pacemaker
-
an electronic device that controls the beating of the heart by a series of electrical discharges to the heart.
- patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)
-
a condition in which the connecting blood vessel between the pulmonary artery and the aorta in fetal circulation stays open in the newborn, allowing extra blood to pass through from the aorta to the lungs.
See also Transposition of the great arteries
- pectus excavatum
-
a depression or hollow caused when the sternum is abnormally pushed inward. When the condition is severe, it can lead to compression of the heart and lungs, altering their functioning.
- pulmonary artery
-
the large artery that normally conveys unoxygenated blood from the lower right chamber of the heart to the lungs. This is the only artery in the body that normally carries unoxygenated blood; all others carry oxygenated blood.
- pulmonic valve
-
the valve that lies between the right ventricle (lower chamber) and the pulmonary artery; it has three cusps (flaps). Like the aortic valve, the pulmonic valve opens in ventricular systole (contraction) when the pressure in the right ventricle rises above the pressure in the pulmonary artery. At the end of ventricular systole, when the pressure in the right ventricle falls rapidly, the pressure in the pulmonary artery closes the pulmonic valve.
- right atrium
-
the upper right chamber of the heart; it receives oxygen-depleted blood from the body via the superior vena cava and the inferior vena cava and pumps it through the tricuspid valve into the right ventricle.
- right ventricle
-
the lower right chamber of the heart; it receives oxygen-depleted blood from the right atrium and pumps it through the pulmonary valve into the lungs via the pulmonary artery.
- single ventricle syndrome
-
failure of one of the heart's two major pumping chambers to form. Fetal single ventricle syndrome is diagnosed by ultrasound and echocardiogram so that special preparations can be made in advance for optimal care at delivery.
See also Institute for Fetal Health
- superior vena cava
-
a large but short vein that carries de-oxygenated blood from the upper half of the body into the heart. The vein connects to the heart at a valve attached to the right atrium.
- tetralogy of Fallot
-
The group of heart defects present at birth includes a ventricular septal defect, obstruction to blood flow out of the right ventricle to the lungs, and an aorta that is shifted to the right. Enlargement of the right ventricle occurs as the right ventricle copes with obstruction of blood flow. Fetal tetralogy of Fallot is diagnosed by ultrasound before birth so that special preparations can be made for optimal care at delivery.
See also Cardiology; Institute for Fetal Health; Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF); Cardiology patient recalls her Children’s Memorial experience from 50 years ago
- tracheal abnormalities
-
abnormalities in the trachea, the body's major "windpipe." Fetal tracheal abnormalities are diagnosed by ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging so that special preparations can be made for optimal care at delivery.
See also Institute for Fetal Health
- transposition of the great arteries (or vessels)
-
Present at birth, this heart defect involves abnormal development of the great arteries (the aorta and the pulmonary artery) during the time the fetal heart is forming. The aorta ends up being connected to the right ventricle, and the pulmonary artery is connected to the left ventricle, which is the opposite of a normal connection. The condition is diagnosed by ultrasound before birth so that special preparations can be made for optimal care at delivery.
See also Institute for Fetal Health
- trauma
-
a physical injury or wound caused by an external force which may cause death or permanent disability. Trauma is also used to describe severe emotional or psychological shock or distress.
See also Critical care (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit); Motion Analysis Center; Orthopaedic surgery/Sports and rehabilitative medicine; Plastic and reconstructive surgery; Pulmonary habilitation program; Surgery (general)
- tricuspid atresia
-
a congenital (present at birth) heart defect in which the tricuspid valve and right ventricle do not develop properly, preventing oxygen-poor (blue) blood from reaching the lungs via its normal pathway.
- tricuspid valve
-
the heart valve on the right side of the heart between the right atrium (upper chamber) and the right ventricle (lower chamber).
- truncus arteriosus
-
a congenital heart defect involving incomplete separation of the great arteries (the aorta and the pulmonary artery) during fetal development
- ventricular septal defect
-
an abnormal opening in the wall between the right and left ventricles. Fetal ventricular septal defect is diagnosed with ultrasound and echocardiography.
See also Institute for Fetal Health; Truncus arteriosus