Treatment of ventricular septal defect in children

Ventricular septal defect is a congenital disease and may be asymptomatic if the defect is small. If the defect is large, symptoms will appear early and be obvious, which will affect development and may cause heart failure in severe cases. For ventricular septal defect in children, the possibility of cure is great only if it is treated in time. So, what are the treatments for ventricular septal defect in children? Let’s find out through the following content!

1. Medical treatment

It is mainly used to prevent and treat infective endocarditis, lung infection and heart failure.

2. Surgical treatment

Defect repair can be performed under direct vision. Patients with small defects and normal X-rays and electrocardiograms do not need surgery. If there is or is no pulmonary hypertension and the main shunt is left-to-right, surgery is most effective between 4 and 10 years old. If symptoms appear early or there is heart failure, surgery can also be performed in infancy. Patients with significant pulmonary hypertension and mainly bidirectional or right-to-left shunts are not suitable for surgery.

Surgical method: Under general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation, a median sternotomy incision was made and extracorporeal circulation was established. After blocking the cardiac circulation, the anterior wall of the right ventricular outflow tract is cut open. Although various types of ventricular septal defects can be exposed, there will be some damage to the myocardium, affecting right heart function and damaging the right bundle branch. Currently, the right atrial incision approach is often used, which can better expose the membranous defect. For high-positioned defects, the pulmonary artery approach is preferred. Smaller defects with fibrous tissue on the edges can be sutured directly, while defects smaller than 1 cm can be repaired with polyester fabric.

This disease is a congenital disease and there is no effective preventive measure. Early detection, early diagnosis and early treatment should be achieved. Those with large defects may develop heart failure at the age of 1 to 2 years, and those with pulmonary hypertension have a poor prognosis. Timely surgical treatment can generally achieve the same results as normal people.

Through the above introduction, do you know what are the treatments for ventricular septal defect in children? There is no effective preventive measure for congenital ventricular septal defect. As long as it is detected and treated early, the possibility of cure will be greater. Therefore, parents must pay attention to their baby's physical health. If there are any abnormalities, they should be sent to a regular hospital for diagnosis and treatment in time.