Endocardial Cushion Defect

It is advisable to seek early care when a baby shows signs of an endocardial cushion defect, a congenital heart malformation in which the walls that separate its chambers and the central valves do not form completely, allowing blood to mix between the chambers.

Common symptoms: In infants there may be fatigue while feeding, rapid breathing, poor weight gain, and sometimes a bluish coloring of the skin.

Common causes: It is an alteration in the heart's development before birth and is associated with some genetic conditions.

Which specialist treats it? The pediatric cardiologist, together with the pediatrician, is the one who evaluates this heart defect and guides its follow-up. If your baby shows difficulty feeding or breathing, the safest thing is to request a specialized checkup.