Congenital heart disease affects 0.8% to 1.2% of live births globally. Ventricular Septal Defect is one of the most common CHDs marked by structural abnormalities. It accounts for 20% to 30% of all inborn cardiac issues. Septal defect is basically a hole in the wall separating the two chambers of the heart. Sometimes, infants are born with tiny holes which close within the first weeks of birth. However, it you notice consistent pale skin (pallor), troubled breathing or poor weight gain, you must visit the top heart specialist hospital in Hyderabad.
Timely intervention is crucial to protect the baby against critical conditions. For example, the child might experience inefficient blood flow and high pressure followed by reduced fresh oxygen flow. The defect can occur in any muscle that divides the two sides of the heart. Therefore, parents must be well-informed about the condition to seek immediate help for a correct diagnosis and treatment. Read on for detailed information.
Symptoms of Ventricular Septal Defect
The warning signs usually depend on the location and size of the hole. These include heart murmurs, impaired growth in babies, difficulty in maintaining or gaining weight, inability to breastfeed adequately and fast breathing. Doctors can also notice frequent tiredness, swelling in legs and ankle, fatigue while eating and enlarged liver. However, a few of these could also indicate other conditions like heart failure. So, get the child screened for correct analysis at heart specialist hospital in Hyderabad.
Causes of Ventricular Septal Defect
There are no scientifically defined causes of this cardiac condition. However, it is believed that genetic syndromes like a piece of missing chromosome can create a tendency of developing VSD. Further, environmental factors might play a major role. Lastly, it is more common in premature infants due to the under-formation of the heart during fetal development. There could be either one or multiple holes in the septum.
Diagnosis of Ventricular Septal Defect
After learning your child’s history, the diagnosis process is performed. This includes: chest X-ray, electrocardiogram, MRI, ultrasound testing and cardiac catheterization. Doctors can also use certain tools to listen to the lungs and heart of the baby for water-flow like sounds. Most of these tests are done to check the pattern of the blood flow, heart muscle stress, abnormal rhythms and size of the heart.
Treatment of VSD
It depends on the size of the hole, child’s age, severity and location of VSD. Tiny holes usually close without surgeries. Otherwise, medium to large holes usually require operative corrections by best child cardiologist in India. The main aim is to close the septal opening before the lungs are affected. An incision is made in the chest wall along with a heart-lung machine which helps maintain the circulation. Now the surgeon will close the hole with patches and stitches.
Once a VSD is treated and well-managed, it has less chances of recurrence. However, if left untreated, it might lead to heart failure, poor growth and lung complications. Therefore, take immediate action once you start noticing the symptoms.