Congenital heart disease: Doctor shares types, treatment and prevention of this birth defect

From types to prevention tips, here’s all that you need to know about congenital heart disease.

Congenital heart disease is one of the most common birth defects where the structure of the heart and the blood vessels get affected, leading to cyanosis, swelling in legs, rapid heartbeat and fatigue. In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr. Pankaj Sugaonkar, interventional pediatric cardiologist, Ruby Hall Clinic Pune said, “Congenital heart disease (CHDs) are among the most common birth defects, occurring in one in every 100 live births. Despite the advances made in medical science, it is still early detection that enhances outcomes for impaired children. Acyanotic heart diseases and cyanotic heart disease are the two types of CHDs.”

Congenital heart disease: Types

• Acyanotic heart disease: Abnormal mixing of oxygenated (pure) and deoxygenated (impure) blood. It can lead to Volume Overload defects or pressure overload defects.
• Cyanotic heart disease: Defects in which mixing of deoxygenated with oxygenated leads to reduction in blood oxygen levels as a whole. Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection (TAPVC), and Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA) are some varieties commonly seen. Cyanosis (blue color on the skin), poor growth, and retardation are obvious symptoms.

“Congenital heart disease (CHDs) are among the most common birth defects, occurring in one in every 100 live births," said Dr. Pankaj Sugaonkar.(Pexels)

Know the treatment procedures for congenital heart disease. (Unsplash)

Congenital heart disease: Types of treatment

Congenital heart disease is usually detected by Electrocardiogram (ECG), chest X-ray, and 2D echocardiography. Know the treatment procedures:

• Small-sized defects and less serious valve closures hardly require intervention or treatment.
• Moderate defects are treated temporarily with pills. If still problematic, correction or device implantation through surgery will have to follow.
• ASD, VSD, and PDA are treatable with lesser invasive device implantation procedures.
• Pressure overload diseases like aortic stenosis and pulmonary stenosis are treated with dilatation under balloon procedure.
• Cyanotic CHD involves open heart surgery, but timing must be chosen according to extent.

Congenital heart disease: Prevention tips

Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.