Heart Issues in Children with Down Syndrome
Heart Issues in Children with Down Syndrome (21)
The Heart and Children with Down Syndrome
Congenital heart disease (the presence of a structural heart defect at birth) occurs in 40 - 50% of children with Down syndrome and cardiac abnormalities are probably the most common malformations seen in trisomy 21.
Because congenital heart disease is so common, it is recommended that all children with Down syndrome have a full Pediatric Cardiology evaluation by 2 months of age.
Also, it is well recognized that children with Down syndrome are at risk for developing damage in their lung arteries at an early age if they have a heart defect.
There appears to be a number of reasons for this increased risk but it is critical to recognize the defect and do the repair early since the severe damage can be irreversible and progressive even after surgery. The timing of surgery is dependent on how the child is doing, however, as a rule it is done by 6 months of age and virtually always by one year of age.
The articles below detail the main heart defects. They are the copyright of the Downs Syndrome Heart Group and are reproduced with their permission.
In this defect there is a hole between the bottom chambers (pumping chambers or ventricles). Due to the higher pressure in the left side of the heart, this allows oxygenated blood to flow through the hole from the left to the right side of the heart, and back to the lungs, in addition to the normal flow.
This defect is not a fault in the internal structure of the heart as in most 'holes in the heart'; it is the continuance of a direct connection between the aorta and the lung (pulmonary) artery, which normally closes shortly after birth.
This defect is present in every newborn baby. It is a gap in the wall between the upper two chambers of the heart, which should close soon after birth.
Atrioventricular Septal Defect with Fallots Tetralogy
Written by AdministratorA small percentage of babies have a complex heart condition which combines the most common defect associated with Down Syndrome, the Atrioventricular Septal Defect (AVSD) with another defect called Fallot's Tetralogy.
Atrioventricular Septal Defect (AVSD or AV CANAL) is the most common defect found in children with Down Syndrome.
This article describes artrial septal defect where there is a hole between the two top chambers in the heart. The article describes the defect, its symptoms and treatment
This article describes the function, and structure of a typical Human Heart