• Diseases & Conditions
• Tests & Procedures
• Healthy Recipes
• Herbs, Vitamins, & Supplements
• Wellness Library
• News
• Centers
• Multimedia

Health Information

Cardiovascular Disorders

• About the Heart and Blood Vessels
  

  Detailed anatomical description of the heart's blood vessels, including simple definitions and a labeled, full-color illustration

• Anatomy and Function of the Electrical System
  

  Detailed anatomical description of the heart's electrical system, including simple definitions and a labeled, full-color illustration

• Arrhythmias in Children
  

  Detailed information on arrhythmias, including symptoms, types, diagnosis, and treatment

• Aortic Stenosis
  

  Aortic stenosis affects the amount of blood that can flow from the left ventricle to the aorta. Symptoms vary with the degree of blockage.

• Atrial Septal Defect (ASD)
  

  An atrial septal defect is an opening in the dividing wall between the two upper chambers of the heart known as the right and left atria.

• Atrioventricular Canal (AV Canal or AVC)
  

  AV canal is a complex heart problem that involves several abnormalities of structures inside the heart.

• Bacterial Endocarditis
  

  Bacterial endocarditis is an infection of the lining of the heart. This infection can occur in anyone who has congenital heart disease.

• Blood Tests
  

  Detailed information on blood tests used to diagnosis heart disease

• Coarctation of the Aorta
  

  Coarctation of the aorta refers to a narrowing of the aorta that restricts the amount of oxygen-rich blood that can travel to the lower part of the body.

• Problems Affecting the Coronary Arteries and Blood Vessels
  

  Detailed information on problems affecting the coronary arteries and blood vessels of children

• Cardiac Catheterization in Children
  

  Detailed information on cardiac catheterization, including how is a cardiac catheterization performed and what happens after the test

• Congenital Heart Disease Index
  

  Detailed information on congenital heart disease, including patent ductus arteriosus, atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect, atrioventricular canal, tricuspid atresia, pulmonary atresia, transposition of the great arteries, tetralogy of Fallot, double outlet right ventricle, truncus arteriosus, coarctation of the aorta, aortic stenosis, and hypoplastic left heart syndrome

• Heart Failure in Children
  

  Detailed information on congestive heart failure, including causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment

• Complex Heart Problems
  

  Detailed information on complex heart problems

• Cardiomyopathy and Your Child
  

  Cardiomyopathy is any disease of the heart muscle in which the heart loses its ability to pump blood effectively.

• CT (Computed Tomography) Scan
  

  Detailed information on CT scan, including how the CT scan is performed and what happens after the procedure

• Chest X-Ray and Children
  

  Detailed information on chest x-rays, including reasons for the procedure

• Diagnosing and Evaluating Heart Disease in Children
  

  Detailed information on diagnosing and evaluating heart disease in children

• Echocardiography
  

  Detailed information on echocardiography, including types and how the procedure is performed

• Emotional and Family Issues in Children with Heart Disease
  

  A child's emotions can be affected by the way his/her family members cope with the illness, as well as other issues including the stress felt by the family.

• EKG/ECG
  

  Detailed information on electrocardiogram, including how the EKG/ECG is performed and what happens after the procedure

• Exercise EKG/ECG Testing for Children
  

  Detailed information on exercise electrocardiogram, including how the exercise EKG/ECG is performed and what happens after the procedure

• Factors Contributing to Congenital Heart Disease
  

  In up to 90 percent of cases of congenital heart defect, the cause is thought to be a combination of genetics and environment.

• Fetal Echocardiography
  

  Detailed information on fetal echocardiography, including how the fetal echocardiography is performed and what happens after the procedure

• Fetal Circulation
  

  Through the blood vessels in the umbilical cord, the fetus receives all the necessary nutrition, oxygen, and life support from the mother through the placenta.

• Growth and Development in Children with Congenital Heart Disease
  

  Children with congenital heart disease often grow and develop more slowly than other children.

• Glossary - Cardiovascular Disorders
  

  Glossary of terms relating to cardiovascular disorders in children

• High Blood Pressure in Children and Adolescents
  

  Blood pressures vary depending on the age, height, weight, and gender of your child. Generally, blood pressure is low in infancy and rises slowly as children age.

• Heart Defects Causing Too Much Blood Flow Through the Lungs
  

  Detailed information on heart defects that cause extra blood flow through the lungs

• Heart-Healthy Eating
  

  Detailed information on heart healthy eating

• Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome
  

  Hypoplastic left heart syndrome is a combination of several abnormalities of the heart and great blood vessels.

• Holter Monitoring
  

  Detailed information on Holter or event monitoring

• Home Page - Cardiovascular Disorders
  

  Detailed information on cardiovascular diseases in children

• Kawasaki Disease
  

  The main threat from Kawasaki disease comes from its effect on the heart and blood vessels.

• Living With Congenital Heart Disease
  

  Detailed information for children living with a congenital heart disease

• A Child Living with a Pacemaker or Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD)
  

  Detailed information on living with a pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator

• Marfan Syndrome
  

  Marfan syndrome is a genetic disorder involving the body's connective tissue, including the heart, lungs, and spinal cord.

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Children
  

  Detailed information on magnetic resonance imaging, including how the image is performed and what happens following the procedure

• Heart Murmurs in Children
  

  Your doctor may have told you your child has a heart murmur. While that can sound scary, there are many different kinds of heart murmurs. Some heart murmurs are not even related to heart disease.

• Heart Defects Causing Obstructions to Blood Flow
  

  Detailed information on heart defects that cause obstructions in blood flow

• Online Resources - Cardiovascular Disorders
  

  List of online resources to find additional information on cardiovascular disorders in children

• Pulmonary Atresia (PA)
  

  PA is a serious heart defect in which the pulmonary valve does not allow blood to flow from the heart to the lungs to pick up oxygen.

• Overview of Pacemakers and Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICDs) in Children
  

  Detailed information on living with a pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator

• Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)
  

  PDA is a heart problem in which the connection between the aorta and pulmonary artery remains open after birth, instead of closing as it should.

• Pericarditis in Children
  

  Pericarditis is inflammation or infection of the pericardium, the thin sac that surrounds the heart.

• Physical Examination
  

  Detailed information on childhood physical examinations

• Problems Involving Heart Rhythm
  

  Detailed information on problems involving heart rhythm

• Pulmonary Stenosis
  

  Pulmonary stenosis affects the leaflets of the pulmonary valve, making it difficult for blood to flow from the right ventricle to the lungs.

• Rheumatic Heart Disease in Children
  

  Rheumatic heart disease is a condition in which permanent damage to heart valves is caused by rheumatic fever.

• Topic Index - Cardiovascular Disorders
  

  Detailed information on cardiovascular diseases in children

• Syncope
  

  Detailed information on syncope, also called fainting, including causes, symptoms, diagnostic, and treatment information

• Tricuspid Atresia (TA)
  

  In tricuspid atresia, the tricuspid valve, normally located between the right atrium and the right ventricle, does not develop properly.

• Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return
  

  In this condition, the four pulmonary veins are connected somewhere besides the left atrium.

• Transesophageal Echocardiography
  

  Detailed information on transesophageal echocardiography, also called TEE or heart scan with endoscopy, including reasons for the procedure, risks of the procedure, what to expect, and discharge instructions

• Tetralogy of Fallot
  

  Tetralogy of Fallot is a complex condition of several congenital heart defects.

• Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA)
  

  Because of abnormal development of the fetal heart, the large vessels that take blood away from the heart to the lungs, or to the body, are improperly connected.

• Heart Defects Causing Too Little Blood Flow Through the Lungs
  

  Detailed information on heart defects that cause too little blood flow through the lungs

• Truncus Arteriosus
  

  Truncus arteriosus occurs when the aorta and the pulmonary artery fail to separate completely during fetal development.

• Tilt Table Evaluation
  

  Detailed information on tilt table testing, also called upright tilt testing, including reasons for the procedure, risks of the procedure, what to expect, and discharge instructions

• Ultrafast/Electron Beam CT Scan
  

  Detailed information on ultrafast computed tomography (CT) scan, including reasons for the procedure, risks of the procedure, what to expect, and discharge instructions

• Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD)
  

  A ventricular septal defect is an opening in the dividing wall between the two lower chambers of the heart known as the right and left ventricles.

• Anomalous Coronary Artery (ACA)
  

  An anomalous coronary artery is a coronary artery that has an abnormality or malformation.

• Genetic Disorders Associated with Congenital Heart Disease
  

  Detailed information on congenital heart disease, including patent ductus arteriosus, atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect, atrioventricular canal, tricuspid atresia, pulmonary atresia, transposition of the great arteries, tetralogy of Fallot, double outlet right ventricle, truncus arteriosus, coarctation of the aorta, aortic stenosis, and hypoplastic left heart syndrome

• Eisenmenger's Syndrome
  

  Eisenmenger’s syndrome primarily affects adolescents and adults with congenital heart defects that were repaired after their first birthday or that were never repaired.

• Anatomy and Function of the Heart Valves
  

  Detailed anatomical description of the heart valves, including simple definitions and a labeled, full-color illustration

• Heart Transplantation in Children
  

  Detailed information on heart transplant, including why a heart transplant is recommended, what is involved in heart transplant surgery, and long-term outlook for a child after a heart transplant

• Congenital Heart Disease
  

  Heart problems are the most common kind of birth defects. While children with some heart defects can be monitored by a doctor and treated with medicine, others will need to have surgery.

• Components of Food
  

  When trying to make heart-healthy changes to your lifestyle and diet, it is helpful to know some basics about nutrition.

• The Heart
  

  Detailed information on the anatomy of the heart and heart transplantation in children

• 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome
  

  22q11.2 deletion syndrome is a genetic disorder marked by hypoparathyroidism, certain heart defects, and a cleft lip or palate.

• Stroke in Children
  

  Stroke is much more common in adults than children, but children get strokes, too. The good news is that a child has a better ability to recover from stoke than an adult because a child's brain is still developing.