The development of the heart begins during the 5th week of a pregnancy, often before a woman is even aware that she is expecting. This means that congenital heart defects, including Pulmonary Atresia, occur during this sensitive time as well. Many environmental and genetic factors can contribute to the presence of a congenital defect, but the neurotransmitter serotonin has been demonstrated to affect cardiac development in several medical studies. For this reason, the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants, like Zoloft, during pregnancy (especially in the first 3 months of a pregnancy) may increase the risk of a congenital heart defect being present.

Zoloft Pulmonary Atresia

When the pulmonary valve fails to fully form prior to birth, the result is the congenital heart defect Pulmonary Atresia. A properly formed pulmonary valve serves to regulate the amount of blood that flows from the right ventricle to the lungs; without a functional valve this opening stays closed. The result of Zoloft pulmonary atresia is an inability of blood to get to the lungs in order to be oxygenated. The lack of oxygenated blood often manifests as cyanosis, or a bluish discoloration in the infant’s skin. Other symptoms include: rapid shallow breathing, inability to eat properly, and exhaustion/fatigue.

Zoloft Pulmonary Atresia Treatment and Complications

With Zoloft Pulmonary Atresia, there are several courses of treatment available. In many cases, a drug called “prostaglandin E1” will be utilized in order to initiate blood flow to the lungs by keeping the patent ductus arteriosus open. Other treatment options consist of: heart transplant, rebuilding the heart with a single ventricle, valve repair/replacement surgery, and heart catheters. The prognosis for pulmonary atresia depends on the form of the defect and the amount of treatment the infant requires. Potential Zoloft pulmonary atresia complications later in life consist of stunted growth/development, stroke, heart failure, infectious endocarditis, as well as death.

File a Zoloft Pulmonary Atresia Lawsuit: Talk to an Attorney

If your child was born with a severe birth defect and the mother took an antidepressant medication during any part of the pregnancy, call the Willis Law Firm today. You and your family may have a legal right to financial compensation through a Zoloft Pulmonary Atresia Lawsuit. When you call, we will provide you with the valuable information that you need in order to decide if a lawsuit is the right way to protect you and your child. Currently, our firm is reviewing antidepressant birth defect cases on a national scale; all of these cases are taken on a contingency fee basis.