Those defects missed while the fetus is still in the womb are often discovered through an unusual heart sound, or murmur, after birth. Defects Range From Simple to SevereCongenital heart defects (cardiac disorders present from birth) encompass a broad spectrum. Some complex defects, like hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), require at least two more operations over the next several years. Improved Understanding Means Better CareThe procedures used in complicated neonatal heart operations have not changed much in the last 30 or 40 years. This boy who had had one of the most complex newborn heart operations was now one of the most accomplished 11-year-olds you could meet.

Source: Huffington Post August 30, 2017 13:41 UTC