Mitral stenosis is a condition where the mitral valve in the heart becomes narrowed, making it harder for blood to flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle. This narrowing causes blood to back up into the lungs and…
Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) occurs when the leaflets of the mitral valve, which normally open and close tightly to regulate blood flow between the left atrium and left ventricle of the heart, become abnormally loose or floppy. Instead of closing…
## Understanding Pulmonary Valve Stenosis Pulmonary valve stenosis is a heart condition where the pulmonary valve—the gateway between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery—becomes narrowed. This narrowing makes it harder for blood to flow from the heart to the…
Ebstein’s anomaly is a rare congenital heart defect that primarily affects the tricuspid valve, which is the valve between the right atrium and right ventricle of the heart. The root cause of Ebstein’s anomaly lies in the abnormal development of…
Ventricular septal defect (VSD) is a condition where there is a hole in the wall (septum) that separates the two lower chambers of the heart, the ventricles. This hole allows blood to pass from the left ventricle to the right…
An **atrial septal defect (ASD)** is a condition where there is a hole in the wall (septum) that separates the two upper chambers of the heart, called the atria. This hole allows oxygen-rich blood from the left atrium to flow…
Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a heart condition where a blood vessel called the ductus arteriosus, which normally closes shortly after birth, remains open. This vessel connects the pulmonary artery to the aorta during fetal development to bypass the lungs.…
Coarctation of the aorta is a condition where a part of the aorta, the large blood vessel that carries oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the rest of the body, becomes abnormally narrow. This narrowing usually occurs just after the…
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) is a severe congenital heart defect where the left side of the heart, including the left ventricle, mitral valve, aortic valve, and ascending aorta, is critically underdeveloped. This condition disrupts the heart’s ability to pump…
## What Causes Truncus Arteriosus? Truncus arteriosus is a rare but serious heart defect present at birth. To understand what causes it, it helps to first know how a normal heart develops and what goes wrong when this condition occurs.…