Pediatric cardiac surgery is an operation for children and young adults. It’s designed to help treat and correct heart malfunctions and diseases that exist at birth. It’s also helpful with the acquired cardiac problems.
There are various heart defects among children. While some may be minor, others are severe and can result in more complications. These defects usually occur within the heart or in the blood vessels located outside the heart.
Furthermore, some defects require a surgical procedure immediately after delivery. But for other defects, the child may have to wait for some months or even years before undergoing the operation.
Cardiac Disorders
There are many congenital cardiac defects, ranging from minor to complex conditions. For minor disorders, there are no visible symptoms. However, complicated issues come with extreme life-threatening signs and symptoms.
The following are the prevalent types of disorders that require pediatric cardiac surgery;
PDA (Patent ductus arteriosus)
This is a heart problem that results due to heart development issues. On the contrary, patent ductus arteriosus refers to an opening found between the two blood vessels that lead away from the heart.
While in the mother’s womb, the blood vessel of the baby runs within the pulmonary artery and the aorta. This blood vessel closes typically immediately after the baby is born and begins to breathe on his/ her own. However, there are a few instances where the vessel fails to close; this is known as patent ductus arteriosus. It’s a chronic condition that may lead to serious health issues in the future.
Symptoms of PDA
A minor PDA has no symptoms. However, a major issue can result in loss of appetite, shortness of breath, and growth issues.
Although there are specific no symptoms, people with this condition often experience the following;
- Rapid breathing or breathlessness
- Respiratory distress
- Increased heart rate
- Sweating
- Fatigue
PDA treatment
In order to resolve this issue, a pediatric cardiac surgeon can close up the opening by administering some medicine and closely monitoring the patient. But in case this technique fails, then there are other alternatives as well.
The first alternative involves using a procedure that does not necessarily require surgery. This procedure is usually done through an x-ray. The surgeon creates a small opening in the groin, inserts a catheter into the artery in the legs, and passes it towards the heart. Another tiny metallic device is put through the catheter into the ductus arteriosus artery of the baby. This device will block the flow of blood, hence correcting the condition.
Another method involves creating a surgical opening on the left side of the thorax. The doctor will then look for the PDA and tie the ductus arteriosus. Alternatively, he/she can bisect and cut it off. This entire process can only be done in the neonatal intensive care unit.
Atrial Septal Defect
This is a congenital disability whereby there is an open hole in the walls between atria. The atrial septum is a wall located between the right and the left upper chambers of the heart.
An atrial septal defect is a condition where the blood with oxygen and blood without oxygen regularly mix up. This results in a serious medical condition.
Symptoms of the Atrial Septal Defect
Most of the children born with this condition do not experience any symptoms. However, they will begin to experience some symptoms as they approach 30 years of age.
These symptoms include;
- Abnormal heart rate
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
- Stroke
- Swelling in the legs or abdomen
- Growth disorders
Atrial Septal Defect Treatment
A minor atrial septal defect can heal and close with time. But if it fails to heal, it can be treated by administering certain medications and frequently monitoring the progress.
For severe conditions, it may require an open-heart surgical procedure to correct it. Through surgery, the septum is covered up using stitches or a patch.
Coarctation of the Aorta
Coarctation of the aorta is a condition that begins immediately after the delivery of the infant. It’s a disorder that can trigger other heart defects as well.
It usually occurs when a section of the large blood vessel or the aorta narrows down. This makes it hard for the blood to flow towards the low parts. With time, coarctation of the aorta can cause other health issues like severe hypertension.
Symptoms of Coarctation of the Aorta
Most of the patients with this condition do not experience any signs and symptoms. Moreover, it’s impossible to detect this condition during childhood. But as the child grows older, he/she begins to experience specific symptoms.
The common symptoms among adults include high blood pressure. In severe instances, it can lead to heart failure in children.
Some other common symptoms include;
- High or low blood pressure
- Enlarged heart
- Low or diminishing pulses
- Shortness of breath
- Blue skin
- Growth issues
Coarctation of Aorta Treatment
The most common form of treatment involves cutting the narrow part and making it wider using a synthetic material. The most recommended method for older children is removing the narrow part of the aorta and stitching up the remaining ends together.
Other methods of treatment include;
- Subclavian flap- It involves making a cut in the narrow section of the aorta and taking a patch from the left subclavian artery. This helps widen the narrowed part of the aorta.
- Using a tube to connect the standard parts of the aorta on both sides of the narrow area. This allows blood to flow via the tube and bypass the narrow part.
- Placing a tiny wire via an artery in the groin on the upper part of the aorta. After that, a small balloon is opened in this narrow part, and a tiny tube is placed there to maintain the artery open. This procedure is usually done in the lab with x-rays and only applicable if the coarctation occurs again after being fixed.
Tetralogy of Fallot Disorder
This is a cardiac defect that begins after the baby is born. It’s one of the rarest conditions which occur due to a combination of four defects in the heart.
Tetralogy of Fallot disorder is where blood with insufficient oxygen flow from the heart to other parts of the body.
Symptoms of Tetralogy of Fallot
- Shortness of breath
- Blue skin
- Frequent fainting
- Increased heart rate
- Eating disorders
- Clubbing of the nail
- Thriving disorders
Tetralogy of Fallot Treatment
A surgical procedure (open heart surgery) is done to rectify this disorder. However, it should only be done within the first year after delivery. The typical correction surgeries you can get in the best hospital for pediatric heart surgery include;
- Covering the defect with a patch
- Putting a patch on the pulmonary artery and right ventricle to help with blood flow towards the lungs
- Operating the pulmonary valve and taking out the thickened muscle
After these operation, continuous care and monitoring are vital to prevent further complications.
Another treatment method is the shunt procedure. The purpose of a shunt is to move blood from one part to another. It’s mainly done if there is a need to delay open heart surgery because the baby is too weak or ill to undergo the operation.
Ventricular Septal Defect
A ventricular septal defect is the most common cardiac disorder that usually exists at delivery. It’s a situation whereby there is a hole in the wall between the lower chambers of the heart (left and right ventricle).
This hole allows the blood with oxygen to combine with the used blood flowing to the lungs. With time, irregular or abnormal heartbeats, as well as other cardiac problems, may result.
Symptoms of Ventricular Septal Defect
There are no specific symptoms; however, people with this condition can experience the following;
- Sweating
- Fatigue
- Increased heart
- Shortness of breath
- Exercising difficulties
- Eating disorders
- Blue skin
Ventricular Septal Defect Treatment
Small minor ventricular septal defects can close by the age of 1. But in other cases, it may remain open even after the baby turns one year and may require a surgical procedure to close.
Large defects, including the small defects on some sections of the ventricular septum and those that lead to heart failure, require open-heart surgery. Mostly, the hole in the septum is covered up with a patch. The common symptoms can be cured using blood pressure drugs.
Other defects do not require a surgical operation. Instead, a tiny tube is passed into the heart, and a small device is used to close the opening.
Conclusion
Pediatric cardiac surgery is a procedure done to rectify various heart defects in children. These defects naturally exist from birth and can affect the heart valves, blood vessels, and the walls of the heart.
At CloudHospital, you can get more advanced care for any child diagnosed with cardiac disorders. Here, you will find the best pediatric heart surgeons in the world who focus developing new innovative surgical techniques to provide a safe and effective cure for these conditions. Furthermore, they have experience in all pediatric care aspects, which includes giving you the best results.