Diagnosis and treatment of the more common congenital cardiovascular anomalies.

Malformations of the heart are the result of an arrest or defective development at some specific point. These developmental errors may be due to defective genes or to abnormalities in the environment. German measles during early pregnancy is associated with a high incidence of congenital cataracts and congenital heart anomalies. Since malformations of the heart result from localized arrest in development, the remainder of the heart progresses as nearly as possible in the normal manner. It follows in most instances the malformed heart occupies the normal position. This renders it possible to analyze which chambers are enlarged and which are absent. By this means it is often possible to make a relatively accurate clinical diagnosis as to the nature of the abnormality.