Some Examples of Birth Defects
Organ System | Birth Defect Examples* | What Happens | Treatment |
|---|---|---|---|
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome | Underdevelopment of the left ventricle, leading to inability to pump blood to the body | Separate operations to rebuild the left ventricle or a heart transplant | |
A hole in, or weakening of, abdominal muscles, allowing internal abdominal organs to spill out (protrude) through the defect | Surgery to close the defect | ||
The foot and ankle are twisted out of shape or position | Immobilization with a cast and physical therapy to stretch the foot and ankle Sometimes surgery | ||
Porencephaly | Brain tissue missing and replaced with fluid-filled sacs | No treatment available Ventricular shunt may decrease pressure | |
The bones of the spine (vertebrae) do not close over the spinal cord | Surgery to cover the opening | ||
A testis (testicle) remains in the abdomen or groin instead of descending into the scrotum before birth | About half will descend into the scrotum without treatment by 4 to 6 months Surgery to move the testis into place | ||
* These examples are only some of the many birth defects that can affect these organ systems. | |||