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Background
The cardiovascular system can be divided into two components, the heart and the vascular structures (arteries, veins and capillary bed). The function of this system is to deliver blood rich in oxygen (oxygenated) from the lungs to the body’s organs and tissues, and to return blood low in oxygen (deoxygenated) from the body back to the lungs.
Congenital heart anomalies affect about 8 in 1000 (approx. 1%) new born babies. In the vast majority of cases the cause of the anomaly is not known. In families where there is an affected child there is usually only a slight increase in risk with future pregnancies of around 3%. In some families with a recognised genetic cause, the risk of recurrent heart problems in future pregnancy is much higher. There have been huge advances in our knowledge and ability to identify genetic causes and this is an area which is continuing to grow.
Common congenital heart defects: Valve defects 
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