Heart Block, Congenital

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Important

It is possible that the main title of the report Heart Block, Congenital is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.

Synonyms

• Atrioventricular (AV) Block

Disorder Subdivisions

• First Degree Congenital Heart Block
• Second Degree Con. Heart Block (Wenckebach [Mobitz I]; Mobitz II; included)
• Third Degree Congenital (Complete) Heart Block

General Discussion

Congenital heart block is characterized by interference with the transfer of the electrical nerve impulses (conduction) that regulate the normal, rhythmic, pumping action of the heart muscle (heart block). The severity of such conduction abnormalities varies among affected individuals.



The normal heart has four chambers. The two upper chambers are the atria and the two lower chambers are the ventricles. Within the right atrium of a normal heart is a natural pacemaker that initiates and controls the heartbeat. The electrical stimulus travels from the pacemaker (sinoatrial or SA node) to the ventricles along a very specific path consisting of conducting tissue and known as the AV (atrioventricular) node. As long as the electrical impulse is transmitted normally, the heart behaves normally.



If the transmission of the signal is impeded, the blocked transmission is known as a heart block or an AV block. If the heart block occurs in the fetus or newborn, the condition is known as congenital heart block. This condition has nothing at all to do with the flow of blood or with the blockage of a major or minor coronary artery. It is an electrical problem rather than a hydraulic one.



Heart blocks are categorized according to the degree of impairment of the patient. The categories are first, second and third degree heart block

Resources

American Heart Association

National Center

7272 Greenville Avenue

Dallas, TX 75231-4596

Tel: (214)373-6300

Fax: (214)373-0268

Tel: (800)242-8721

Email: inquire@heart.org

Internet: http://www.americanheart.org



Congenital Heart Anomalies, Support, Education, & Resources

2112 North Wilkins Road

Swanton, OH 43558

Tel: (419)825-5575

Fax: (419)825-2880

Email: chaser@compuserve.com

Internet: http://www.csun.edu/~hcmth011/chaser/chaser-news.html



International Bundle Branch Block Association

6631 West 83rd Street

Los Angeles, CA 90045-2875

Tel: (310)670-9132



NIH/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute

31 Center Drive MSC 2480

Building 31A Rm 4A16

Bethesda, MD 20892-2480

Tel: (301)592-8573

Fax: (240)629-3246

Email: nhlbiinfo@rover.nhlbi.nih.gov

Internet: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/



Kids With Heart National Association for Children's Heart Disorders, Inc.

1578 Careful Dr

Green Bay, WI 54304-2941

Tel: (920)498-0058

Fax: (920)498-0058

Tel: (800)538-5390

Email: kidswithheart@greenbaynet.com

Internet: http://www.kidswithheart.org



Little Hearts, Inc.

P.O. Box 171

Cromwell, CT 06416

USA

Tel: 8606350006

Fax: 8606350006

Tel: 8664354673

Email: info@littlehearts.org

Internet: http://www.littlehearts.org



Congenital Heart Information Network

1561 Clark Dr

Yardley, PA 19067

Tel: (215)493-3068

Fax: (215)493-3068

Email: mb@tchin.org

Internet: http://www.tchin.org



MUMS (Mothers United for Moral Support, Inc) National Parent-to-Parent Network

150 Custer Court

Green Bay, WI 54301-1243

USA

Tel: 9203365333

Fax: 9203390995

Tel: 8773365333

Email: mums@netnet.net

Internet: http://www.netnet.net/mums/

For a Complete Report

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ® (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html

The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.

It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report.

This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.

For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org

Last Updated:  4/12/2008

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Last updated:	April 12, 2008