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Copyright 1988, 1989, 1997, 1998, 2006
Synonyms of Heart Block, Congenital
- 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
Organizations related to Heart Block, Congenital
- American Heart Association
National Center
7272 Greenville Avenue
Dallas TX 75231-4596
Phone #: 214-373-6300
800 #: 800-242-8721
e-mail: inquire@heart.org
Home page: http://www.americanheart.org
- Congenital Heart Anomalies, Support, Education, & Resources
2112 North Wilkins Road
Swanton OH 43558
Phone #: 419-825-5575
800 #: --
e-mail: chaser@compuserve.com
Home page: http://www.csun.edu/~hcmth011/chaser/chaser-news.html
- Congenital Heart Information Network
1561 Clark Dr
Yardley PA 19067
Phone #: 215-493-3068
800 #: --
e-mail: mb@tchin.org
Home page: http://www.tchin.org
- Fetal Hope Foundation
9786 S Holland Street
Littelton CO 80127
Phone #: 303-932-0553
800 #: 877-789-4673
e-mail: info@fetalhope.org
Home page: http://www.fetalhope.org
- Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center
PO Box 8126
Gaithersburg MD 20898-8126
Phone #: 301-519-3194
800 #: 888-205-2311
e-mail: gardinfo@nih.gov
Home page: http://www.genome.gov/10000409
- International Bundle Branch Block Association
6631 West 83rd Street
Los Angeles CA 90045-2875
Phone #: 310-670-9132
800 #: --
e-mail: N/A
Home page: N/A
- Kids With Heart National Association for Children's Heart Disorders, Inc.
1578 Careful Dr
Green Bay WI 54304-2941
Phone #: 920-498-0058
800 #: 800-538-5390
e-mail: kidswithheart@greenbaynet.com
Home page: http://www.kidswithheart.org
- Little Hearts, Inc.
P.O. Box 171
Cromwell CT 06416
Phone #: 860-635-0006
800 #: 866-435-4673
e-mail: info@littlehearts.org
Home page: http://www.littlehearts.org
- MUMS (Mothers United for Moral Support, Inc) National Parent-to-Parent Network
150 Custer Court
Green Bay WI 54301-1243
Phone #: 920-336-5333
800 #: 877-336-5333
e-mail: mums@netnet.net
Home page: http://www.netnet.net/mums/
- NIH/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
31 Center Drive MSC 2480
Building 31A Rm 4A16
Bethesda MD 20892-2480
Phone #: 301-592-8573
800 #: --
e-mail: nhlbiinfo@rover.nhlbi.nih.gov
Home page: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/
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