Pediatric Cardiology Treatments

Common conditions that affect children

• Structural Heart Diseases: The term is used for a variety of conditions marked by an abnormality in different structures of the heart. These include the valves, chambers, muscles and walls. There are a variety of factors that may be responsible for structural heart diseases, such as certain infections like Rubella, exposure to toxins and excessive alcohol intake, during pregnancy. The most common types of structural heart disease include septal defects, patent foremen ovale, aortic stenosis and cardiomyopathy.
• Arrhythmia: The condition is marked by an abnormality in the heart pace, resulting in uneven rhythm. The childs heart may beat too slowly (less than 60 beats per minute) or too fast (more than 100 beats per minute). The former is known as bradycardia and the latter is known as tachycardia. Other types of arrhythmia seen in kids include long QT syndrome, sinus tachycardia, sick sinus syndrome, atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter and ventricular tachycardia.
• Congenital Heart Diseases: Affecting around 1 out of every 100 newborns, congenital heart diseases are abnormalities that develop as a result of improper or underdevelopment of the heart within the womb. The severity of such conditions varies from one child to another and while some are diagnosed during or after birth, others can be detected in the womb itself, during routine ultrasound. Common congenital heart problems include bicuspid aortic valve, tetralogy of Fallot, pulmonary valve stenosis and atrial septal defect.
• Acquired Heart Diseases: These are heart diseases that develop after a child is born and tend to be more common in adults as compared to kids. The most common acquired heart diseases in children include rheumatic heart disease and Kawasaki disease. The former is a complication of rheumatic fever, caused by inflammation and scarring of the heart valves, and the latter is marked by damage to the heart valve by the dysfunctional antibodies produced by the immune system.

When should you consider seeing our experts?

Heart diseases in children manifest in a variety of different ways depending on the type of disease and its severity. Some of the most common symptoms that require immediate medical attention include:

• Bluish tone of lips and skin
• Poor growth;
• Sweating while feeding (in babies)
• Palpitations
• Fatigues and weakness
• Breathlessness or difficulty in breathing
• Pale skin tone
• Dizziness or fainting
• Chest pain and discomfort (in adolescents and teens)

How heart problems are diagnosed in children?

At Surya Hospital, our team performs a thorough physical examination to assess the childs overall well-being. This includes the assessment of symptoms that are being experienced by your little one. The medical history of the child may also be evaluated. Based on these, our team may recommend further tests, which include:

• Simple chest X-ray
• ECG or electrocardiogram
• Echocardiogram
• Pulse oximetry
• Cardiac catheterization
• MRI or magnetic resonance imaging
• Holter monitoring
• Electrophysiology studies

Treatments

We curate every treatment plan with a personalized approach to ensure the best outcomes for your little one. Common treatment modalities recommended by our team include:

• Medication: Medication may be used for treating mild problems or managing symptoms of conditions that may need surgery later on. While some medicines are to be taken for a couple of months or years, others might have to be continued lifelong.
• Cardiac Catheterization: The procedure offers a minimally invasive approach to treating various heart problems. It involves the use of a thin, flexible tube, commonly known as a catheter, to treat various structural and functional abnormalities in the heart.
• Fetal Cardiac Intervention: If a serious heart condition that requires immediate medical intervention is diagnosed while the baby is still inside the womb, the procedure may be performed during the course of pregnancy, to ensure minimal complications and healthy fetal growth.
• Heart Surgery: This refers to various invasive interventions, both conventional and minimally invasive, that are performed for managing complex heart problems and defects. The surgical intervention varies depending on the condition and overall health of the child.