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About Congenital Heart Defects
  • Updated:Jan 24,2011

Pediatric doctor listening to baby's heart beatThe word "congenital" means existing at birth. The terms "congenital heart defect" and "congenital heart disease" are often used to mean the same thing, but "defect" is more accurate.

The heart ailment is a defect or abnormality, not a disease. A defect results when the heart or blood vessels near the heart don't develop normally before birth. Working with your healthcare team, learn about the different types of congenital heart defects, treatments and tests.

In this section you will find these articles:


Congenital Heart Defects
Web Booklets on Congenital Heart Defects These online publications describe many defects and the procedures used to repair them. This information is designed so that you can customize it to your own needs. It’s organized so that you can print out the sections that relate to you or your child’s defect and concerns.



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