Pulmonary Atresia

If your baby is born with pulmonary atresia or another type of heart defect, you may be eligible to seek out compensation if you took a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) during your pregnancy. SSRIs have been linked to a possible increase in the risk for birth defects. To learn more, contact a birth defect lawyer at the Flood Law Group today.

What is Pulmonary Atresia?

Pulmonary atresia is a congenital heart defect. The normal pulmonary valve of the heart is an opening leading from the right ventricle (the pumping chamber on the lower right side of the heart) to the lungs.

In babies with pulmonary atresia, instead of there being an opening, a solid wall of tissue forms and the valve cannot open. Without this opening, blood cannot flow from the heart to the lungs to get oxygen.

Signs and Symptoms of Pulmonary Atresia

Symptoms of pulmonary atresia usually are evident within a few hours of the baby's birth. At times, it might take several days for symptoms to show up. Symptoms may include:

• Breathlessness
• Fatigue
• Lack of interest in eating (babies may tire or sweat during feedings)
• Rapid breathing
• Skin that has a bluish tinge

Pulmonary atresia often occurs with another congenital heart defect called patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Using a stethoscope, doctors can hear a heart murmur that causes PDA.

The following tests may be done to help in the diagnosis:

• Chest X-ray can show the heart and lungs
• Echocardiogram, which uses sound waves that are transformed into an image of the beating heart, can show blood flow and structures of the organ
• Electrocardiogram, which measures the electrical activity of the heart and can detect abnormalities in the rhythm of the heartbeats
• Heart catheterization can show how well the heart valves are working
• Pulse oximetry shows how much oxygen is in the blood

Complications of Pulmonary Atresia

• Death
• Delay in growth and development
• Heart failure, a condition where the heart cannot pump enough oxygen around the body to meet the needs of the tissues and organs
• Infectious endocarditis, an infection of the heart valves and the lining of the heart
• Seizures
• Stroke

SSRIs and Heart Defects

SSRI is a class of antidepressants that include some of the most commonly prescribed antidepressants in the world. These include:

• Lexapro® (escitalopram)
• Celexa® (citalopram)
• Zoloft® (sertraline)
• Paxil® (paroxetine)
• Prozac® (fluoxetine)

Some studies have shown a slightly increased risk of heart defects in babies whose mothers took SSRIs during their pregnancies. This risk must be balanced with the effects of depression on the mother and the developing fetus.

The best way for a pregnant woman to decide whether or not to take an antidepressant during her pregnancy is to talk with her physician. Untreated depression can also cause complications with a newborn.

For more information or to schedule a free consultation with a birth defect attorney, contact the Flood Law Group today.