Throughout the world about 20 percent of infants die
due to congenital heart defects. In India, about 58 percent cases of new born
babies especially between the ages of 0 to 5 years are with congenital heart
disease.
Congenital
heart defects:
Congenital heart defect is the major and very common
type of birth defects seen in children. It is a condition which involves the
structural defect of the heart during the time of the birth. Walls of the
heart, valves of the heart and the arteries and veins located near the heart
are involved in the defects. Due to this the normal flow of the blood is
interrupted.
Diagnostic procedures for
congenital heart defects:
For the diagnosis of congenital heart defects, the
doctors perform certain physical examination and some heart tests. The defects
can be found during the pregnancy or soon after birth of the baby.
Physical
examination:
Ø Physical
examination includes listening to the heart and lung of the baby by using
stethoscope.
Ø Check
if the colour of the skin, nail and lips of the baby shows any blue coloured
shade.
Ø Shortness
of breath or rapid breathing is common.
Ø Delay
in growth is a hallmark of congenital heart disease.
Diagnostic
tests:
Ø Echocardiography
Ø EKG (Electrocardiogram)
Ø Chest X Ray
Ø Pulse Oximetry
Ø Cardiac Catheterization
Treatment
for congenital heart defects:
Many children do not require treatment for
congenital heart defects, but in severe conditions the treatment is a must.
Different
factors for providing an appropriate treatment:
Treatment differs from one child to another child,
it completely depends upon the following:
·
Severity of the condition
·
Age
·
Weight
·
Height
·
General health condition
The doctors treat the patients by providing a
combination of surgical procedures. In case of severe heart defect, the doctor
may perform several catheter or surgical procedure during the first year of
life. Some children are recommended to take medications for long term.
Treatment
involving catheter procedure:
Catheter procedure is easier than that of a surgery.
This procedure involves the insertion of catheter into the vein or an artery.
This procedure doesn’t involve opening of heart for treating the defects. Since
past 20 years, the use of this procedure has been increasing. Some heart defects like atrialseptal defect (ASD) and pulmonary valve
stenosis can be treated easily by using this method.
In the treatment of atrial septal
defect (ASD), the doctor places the catheter attached with a small device in
the vein near the area of upper thigh. The tube runs along the way towards the
heart septum. The device gets pushed out of catheter once the catheter reaches
the septum. When the device is secured in the place, the catheter is taken out
from the body. The normal tissue grows within 6 months and the device doesn’t
need to be replaced.
Surgical treatment:
When the heart defects cannot be
fixed by using a catheter, then the doctors opt for a surgery. It is an
open-heart surgery, which fixes the defect completely. If the defects are not
fixed completely, then repeated surgeries are performed.
The surgery might be done for the
following reasons:
·
Close the hole present
in the heart
·
Restore or change the
heart valve
·
Enlarge the arteries
·
Change the complex
defects
Babies born with multiple defects
undergo transplantation of heart, where the damaged heart is replaced with a
new and healthy heart of the donor.
Way to live with congenital heart defect:
ü Children with congenital heart defects are able to live a
normal life. However, routine checkup is very important as they grow up.
ü The child should comply to the prescribed medicines.
ü Regular dental checkup helps the child to avoid the risk of
infective endocarditis, because children with severe heart defects have a higher
risk of developing infective endocarditis.
ü Collect all the medical records and information of the child
which includes diagnosis, underwent surgeries or procedures, medications,
regular medical follow up recommendations, health insurance.
ü Consult a dietician regarding the healthy nutrition of your
child.
ü Discuss about the emotional status of your child with their
doctor.
ü Women with any kind of heart defects should consult a doctor
before pregnancy.
