Definition

Noun: A structural abnormality in the heart that is present at birth. It is a type of birth defect that affects the heart's chambers, valves, or blood vessels, impacting how blood flows through the heart and to the rest of the body.

Usage

This term is used in medical contexts to describe a range of heart conditions existing from birth. * The pediatrician detected a congenital heart defect during the newborn screening. * Advances in surgery have improved the prognosis for many infants born with a congenital heart defect.

Advanced Usage

• Complex congenital heart defect: Refers to a severe form involving multiple structural problems within the heart.
  • The team of specialists prepared for surgery on the infant's complex congenital heart defect.

Variants and Related Words

• Congenital cardiac defect: A synonymous medical term.
• CHD: A common acronym for "congenital heart disease" or "congenital heart defect," used in medical charts and literature.

Synonyms

• Birth defect of the heart
• Congenital heart disease (Note: This is a closely related term often used interchangeably, though "defect" specifically denotes a structural problem, while "disease" can imply a broader functional disorder.)

Related Phrases

• To be born with a heart defect: A common descriptive phrase.
  • The child was born with a heart defect that required immediate attention.

Noun

1. a birth defect involving the heart