Information on Structural Problems (e.g. hole in the heart)

Pulmonary Atresia with Venticular Septal Defect

There are two main pipes which leave the heart. The Pulmonary artery takes blood to the lungs and the Aorta which takes blood to the head and the body. Some babies are born without (or with a very small) pulmonary artery. This means that the blood is not effectively getting to the lungs to pick up Oxygen. In addition to this the baby has a hole in the heart between the two pumping chambers. This may sound terrible but the hole may in many cases be a positive as it allows both sides of the heart to empty effectively and pump better. Nonetheless this is a very serious heart condition which will need urgent intervention at a specialist cardiac centre. The first stage will normally be to give a medicine to keep 'the duct' open. Read more about this in our leaflet.

British Heart Foundation Leaflet

Click here to see the British Heart Foundation leaflet on Pulmonary Atresia with Venticular Septal Defect or click here to go to the British Heart Foundation website.

Children's Heart Federation Leaflet

Click here to see the Children's Heart Federation leaflet on Pulmonary Atresia with Venticular Septal Defect or click here to go to the Children's Heart Federation website.