How Is It Treated?

In mild cases of Ebstein's Anomaly, no treatment is necessary. However, if negative symptoms occur such as cyanosis, surgical intervention may be required.

Initial treatment shortly after birth may be necessary to treat a baby's cyanosis because of inadequate pulmonary artery blood flow.  This may involve medications to keep the Ductus Arteriosus open, or Patent (see PDA), as well as a Modified Blalock-Taussig Shunt, involving the insertion of a tube between the pulmonary artery and a branch of the aorta. These are temporary measures to ensure that enough blood is carried to the lungs to receive oxygen.

To effect a permanent repair of Ebstein's Anomaly, the valve may be effectively decreasing the size of the valve by cutting along its edge (1 in animation), reducing the wall of the right atrium (2 in animation), modifying the shape of the tricuspid valve leaflets (3 in animation), and an annular ring is sutured into place to support and optimize the valve dimensions (4 in animation).

Frequently, Ebstein's Anomaly is associated with an Atrial Septal Defect (ASD). The ASD may be closed with a patch made of pericardium (part of the membrane that covers the heart) or of a synthetic material.