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Heart Tumors (Cardiac Tumors) A heart tumor, also known as a cardiac tumor, is an abnormal growth in the heart. It can develop almost anywhere in the heart: inside one of the heart’s chambers, in the outside wall, or in the heart muscle itself. Heart tumors are rare in children. Most are noncancerous (benign)

Heterotaxy Syndrome (Isomerism) Heterotaxy syndrome, also known as isomerism, is a rare disorder that affects where organs are located in the body. During pregnancy, a baby’s heart may develop in the right side of the chest instead of the left. Other organs like the lungs, stomach, liver and spleen may form in

Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) is a rare birth condition that affects the left side of the heart. It’s one of the most complex heart problems seen in newborns. With HLHS, the heart’s left-sided valves (the aortic valve and the mitral valve) are either too small or didn’t

Myocarditis Myocarditis is a condition that causes inflammation in the muscles of the heart, the myocardium. As a result of illness or a bad reaction to a chemical, the myocardium becomes swollen, or inflamed, which makes it harder for the heart to pump blood. This can also disrupt the heart

Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a rare birth condition that affects the flow of blood around the heart and lungs. During pregnancy, while a baby is still in the mother’s womb, a blood vessel called the ductus arteriosus connects the heart’s two main arteries. Once the baby is

Pulmonary Atresia (Tetralogy of Fallot) Pulmonary atresia affects the pulmonary valve, a part of the heart that controls how blood is pumped to the lungs. Normally, blood flows through the pulmonary valve on its way from the heart to the lungs, where it receives oxygen before it’s pumped to the rest of the body. But in

Pulmonary Hypertension Pulmonary hypertension is a type of high blood pressure that affects the lungs and heart. There are a few different kinds of pulmonary hypertension: For example, pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) involves problems in the lung’s blood vessels. Pulmonary hypertension caused by

Pulmonary Valve Stenosis (Tetralogy of Fallot) Pulmonary valve stenosis (also known simply as pulmonary stenosis) is a condition that affects the pulmonary valve, which connects the heart’s lower right chamber to the lungs. Blood flows through the pulmonary valve on its way to the lungs, where it receives oxygen before it’s

Single Ventricle Defects The heart has two pumping chambers, called ventricles. When a baby is born with only one working ventricle, it’s called a single ventricle defect. This creates serious and complex problems for the heart – but with state-of-the-art care, kids born with these kinds of congenital

Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA) Transposition of the great arteries (TGA) is a rare birth condition that affects how the heart is connected to the lungs and body. Normally, the right side of the heart pumps blood into the lungs, where it receives oxygen. The left side of the heart then pumps this oxygen-rich

Tricuspid Atresia In this rare disorder, the tricuspid valve – which is supposed to connect the heart’s right chambers – does not form in a baby during pregnancy. Normally, blood flows from the heart’s upper right chamber, through the tricuspid valve, and into the heart’s lower right chamber. Then

Truncus Arteriosus This rare birth condition occurs when two of the heart’s most important arteries and their respective valves don’t form separately. Normally, the aorta carries blood from the heart to the body, and the pulmonary artery carries blood to the lungs. But in truncus arteriosus, these

Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) A ventricular septal defect (VSD) is a hole between the lower chambers (ventricles) of the heart. Depending on its size and location, it can allow blood to mix between the ventricles, and cause too much blood to flow to the lungs. As a result, the heart and lungs have to work

Anemia

Bone Marrow Failure