Tricuspid atresia - In this condition, there's no tricuspid valve. That means no blood can flow from the right atrium to the right ventricle . As a result, the right ventricle is small and not fully developed. The child's survival depends on there being an opening in the wall between the atria called an atrial septal defect and usually an opening in the wall between the two ventricles called a ventricular septal defect. Because the circulation is abnormal, the blood can't get enough oxygen, and the child looks blue (cyanotic) .
Often in these cases a surgical shunting procedure is needed to increase blood flow to the lungs. This reduces the cyanosis. Some children with tricuspid atresia have too much blood flowing to the lungs. They may need a procedure (pulmonary artery banding) to reduce blood flow to the lungs. Other children with tricuspid atresia may have a more functional repair (Fontan procedure). Children with tricuspid atresia require lifelong follow-up by a cardiologist.
Congenital heart defects - are structural problems with the heart present at birth. They result when a mishap occurs during heart development soon after conception and often before the mother is aware that she is pregnant. Defects range in severity from simple problems, such as "holes" between chambers of the heart, to very severe malformations, Rarely defects occur in which only one ventricle (single ventricle) is present, such as complete absence of one or more chambers or valves.
Cardiac catheterization -
In this procedure a doctor guides a thin plastic tube or catheter through an artery or vein in the arm or leg and into the heart and the coronary arteries in the heart. This test can measure blood pressure and how much oxygen is in the blood, and provide other information about the pumping ability of the heart muscle or for treatment. When a catheter is used to inject dye into the coronary arteries, this is termed coronary angiography or coronary arteriography . If a catheter has a balloon on the tip, the procedure known as percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (P.T.C.A.) can be done. Catheterization can also be performed on infants and children to examine or treat congenital cardiac defects.
Shunt or shunting procedure - The operation of forming a passage Open-heart surgery is performed on the heart while the bloodstream is diverted through a heart-lung machine. The surgery includes heart valve replacements, coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgeries, heart transplants and "other open-heart procedures."
Fontan procedure or operation - A surgical procedure in which the right atrium is connected to the pulmonary artery either directly or with a conduit. This allows blood to bypass an incomplete or underdeveloped right ventricle , as in tricuspid atresia and pulmonary atresia .The atrial defect is also closed to relieve cyanosis (blueness).
Angioplasty - Surgical procedure in which a balloon-tipped catheter (thin tube) is inserted into a diseased, narrowed blood vessel; inflation of balloon stretches vessel opening, improving blood flow through it. Also called balloon angioplasty, coronary angioplasty, and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA).
Aorta - Main artery in the body, which carries blood from the heart to all parts of the body, except the lungs.
Arrhythmia - Any variation in the normal rhythm of the heartbeat.
Artificial heart valve -A synthetic or pigskin (porcine) valve surgically placed into the heart to replace a defective valve; most often used to replace aortic and mitral valves.
Bradycardia - Slow heart beat, usually below 60 beats per minute.
Cardiac imaging study - Diagnostic technique that provides images of heart structure and function; includes chest x-ray films, coronary angiography, thallium 201 imaging, acute infarct scintigraphy, radionuclide ventriculography, and echocardiography.
Chronic venous insufficiency - Condition in which veins do not channel the flow of blood adequately. Most often seen in the lower extremities.
ECG - Electrocardiogram
Echocardiography - Cardiac imaging study that uses sound waves to create images of the heart; shows heart's motion and size of its chambers.
Electrophysiologist - Medical specialist in the electrical activities of the heart.
Exercise stress test - Noninvasive diagnostic procedure in which a patient exercises while undergoing ECG monitoring; can detect exercise-induced ischemia (lack of blood supply).
EKG - See Electrocardiogram.
Hypoplastic heart - Form of congenital heart disease in which one side of the heart is incompletely formed.