The heart is the first functioning organ to develop during embryogenesis. The formation of the heart is a tightly regulated and complex process, and alterations to its development can result in congenital heart defects. Mutations in sarcomeric proteins, such as alpha myosin heavy chain and cardiac alpha actin, have now been associated with congenital heart defects in humans, often with atrial s...

In the feline species the most common congenital defects are atrioventricular dysplasia (with the mitral valve more commonly affected than the tricuspid valve) and ventricular septal defects. Pulmonic and aortic stenosis are relatively rare. Patent ductus arteriosus is extremely uncommon. However one has to be aware that cats often have multiple congenital defects and do present as adults with ...

background: we sought to determine the frequency of the risk factors for congestive cardiac failure (ccf) in a tertiary care hospital in peshawar, pakistan. methods: this retrospective, observational study was conducted in the department of cardiology, postgraduate medical institute, lady reading hospital peshawar, from march 2005 to september 2007. relevant information regarding the risk facto...

The authors investigated the possible association between a mother's nausea during pregnancy and her child's risk for a congenital heart defect using data from the population-based Atlanta Birth Defects Case-Control Study conducted in 1982-1983. Case infants (n = 998) had nonsyndromic congenital heart defects and control infants (n = 3,029) had no congenital defects. Nausea during pregnancy (NP...

1. Account for the differences in the fetal circulation and the circulatory changes that occur at birth as they relate to the physical assessment of congenital heart defects. 2. Develop an understanding of the anatomy and physiology associated with uncorrected, palliated, and corrected congenital heart defects. 3. Design pharmacological treatment plans needed for preoperative, postoperative, an...