Congenital heart diseases
Dionysia Nousi, Helen Mperouka
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Publication year:
2012
Authors:
- Nousi Dionysia, RN, Μsc, Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center Hospital, Athens
- Mperouka Helen, RN, Μsc, Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center Hospital, Athens
Keywords index:
Pages: 81-93
Abstract:
Congenital heart diseases are the second leading cause of death in infancy and childhood, as well as the only cause of heart disease in the pediatric population in developing countries. Congenital heart diseases are defined as the conformation abnormalities of the heart or the blood vessels, formed during fetal life (3 to 6 weeks of pregnancy), i.e. when the heart or the major blood vessels of the heart can not develop properly before birth. More in detail, these abnormalities involving the arteries, the valves, the coronary and the major vessels of the heart can be either simple or complex. Although, the etiology of these diseases in 80-90% of the cases is unknown, in the literature, it is cited that genetic and environmental factors are implicated for the incidence of congenital heart disease. Congenital heart diseases are clinically classified depending on the existence of cyanosis in "non-cyanotic" and "cyanotic. The treatment of congenital heart disease can be either conservative or surgical
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