A perforated heart in infants and children is a problem that occurs from birth, and doctors sometimes resort to surgery to solve the problem. Here''s the most important information about heart murmurs in infants and children.
A perforation of the heart in infants and children is a hole in the wall separating either the right and left atrium or the wall between the right and left ventricles.
Doctors sometimes resort to surgery in severe cases of heart puncture. Here is the most important information about it.
Cardiac puncture in infants and children
As mentioned, the holes in the heart are either between the atria or the ventricles. The problem lies in the holes because they allow the blood to mix between the two chambers of the heart, which leads to some problems in its work.
The types of perforations in infants and children are divided into two main categories: atrial septal defect and ventricular septal defect.
The heart puncture operation in infants and children is done under general anesthesia. The surgeon performs the open-heart surgery, first by opening an incision in the chest.
Then he accesses the heart muscle and works to close the hole with medical sutures or by placing and sewing a medical patch over the hole. Over time, heart tissue grows over the patch and becomes very normal.
In general, when no postoperative complications occur, the child leaves the hospital within 3 to 4 days, and the wound needs approximately 6 weeks to heal. Some analgesics are prescribed to relieve pain.
Antibiotics are usually dispensed for a period of 6 months after the operation when any other surgeries or dental procedures are required during this period to prevent infections of the endocardium and heart tissue.
Some pre-operative instructions for heart puncture in infants and children
The child or infant should not eat or drink after midnight before the morning of the operation. And stop giving any of the medications and treatments as well.
The doctor may need some preoperative pictures and examinations, such as: chest x-rays, ECG, comprehensive blood tests and echocardiogram.
Consequences of cardiac puncture in infants and children
In general, in most cases, there are no serious consequences after the operation, but in some cases it is not without. Here are some of the consequences of heart murmurs in infants and children:
bleeding.
infection.
Thrombosis, which increases the risk of stroke.
Arrhythmia.
heart block
Complications of anesthesia.
Other tips about heart murmurs in infants and children
Of course, periodic follow-up by doctors is necessary after the operation, and the doctor takes the necessary pictures to ensure that the holes are completely closed.
The child usually begins to improve gradually, but if any of the following occur, the doctor should be reviewed immediately:
severe shortness of breath
Blue tongue, lips, or area around the mouth.
Anorexia and malnutrition.
Unexplained weight loss.
Extreme lethargy.
High temperature for no apparent reason and for a long time.
Pain, tenderness, or discharge of pus from the surgical wound site.
