Interrupted aortic arch is a serious birth defect where the aorta is not properly formed, requiring surgery soon after birth. It can be associated with other heart defects and DiGeorge syndrome, and is often identified during prenatal ultrasound exams. Immediate treatment is necessary to avoid congestive heart failure and death.
Interrupted aortic arch is an unusual birth defect in which the aorta, a blood vessel responsible for carrying oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the body, is not properly formed. This birth defect is very serious and needs to be treated with surgery as soon as possible after birth. Once treated, your child should continue to develop normally and should not have any further medical problems unless the child has other congenital conditions.
This condition occurs due to errors during fetal development and is usually random. It can be associated with other heart defects and is also known to be associated with a genetic condition called DiGeorge syndrome. Often, interrupted aortic arch is identified during routine prenatal ultrasound exams, providing early warning. In other cases, the baby begins to feel sick shortly after birth, feeling weakness, fatigue and blueness in the extremities.
As long as the fetus is in the womb, the fetal circulatory system is operational, and a structure called the ductus arteriosus bypasses the aorta, providing the baby with adequate circulation. Once the baby is born, this facility closes. As it begins to close, a patient with a disrupted aortic arch will experience disruption of blood flow to certain areas of the body. This will cause a rapid onset of severe symptoms within days of birth.
Babies with this condition are usually born full-term and appear healthy at birth, unless they have other medical problems. Immediate treatment for interrupted aortic arch is medication to keep the ductus arteriosus open until the child can be taken to the operating room. In surgery, a repair is done to allow the baby’s heart to function normally. Surgery soon after birth carries risks, as babies can be very frail, but the alternative is to let the defect go untreated, leading to congestive heart failure and death.
If a disrupted aortic arch is identified during a prenatal visit, parents can discuss plans to manage the defect as quickly as possible after delivery. This will also help them prepare for a hospital stay for the baby and the emotional stress associated with the surgery. In cases where babies are born without a prenatal diagnosis, the defect may not be identified until an exam reveals a heart murmur and other signs of problems, such as skin mottling and poor feeding as the baby’s circulatory disorders become more severe. pronounced. In these situations, decisions need to be made quickly to get the appropriate help for the child as soon as possible.
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