Over the years, there has been a noticeable advancement in paediatric cardiac surgery in India. Paediatric surgeries are delicate procedures that require an experienced hand for the operation. It’s beneficial to understand what goes on in a procedure so intricate as paediatric cardiac surgery. So, let’s start by learning more about the procedure.
What Is Paediatric Cardiac Surgery?
Paediatric cardiac surgery in India refers to the cardiac surgery performed on children to repair their congenital heart defects. Sometimes, a child is born with these defects, while other times, the child develops these defects after birth.
These cardiac defects can arise from several reasons, including complications during pregnancy, genetic disorders, complications at birth, etc. Regardless of the cause, the most important thing for a doctor is to identify these issues early on and treat them as soon as possible.
The defects mentioned above can occur either inside the heart or in the blood vessels outside the heart. Some defects require immediate surgery right after the baby is born. Others could be performed months or years after the baby’s birth.
Different Types Of Paediatric Cardiac Surgery
The following list comprises the most advanced and affordable types of paediatric cardiac surgery in India at a leading hospital like Max Healthcare.
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Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) Surgery
In Atrial Septal Defect, a hole in the septum separates the right atrium from the left atrium. This causes a problem, resulting in mixing the pure and the impure blood in the cardiovascular system.
ASD is corrected through open-heart surgery. During the procedure, the sternum is split through the midline, and the vessels of the superior vena cava and the inferior vena cava are clamped. Further, the right atrium is opened up by performing the cardiopulmonary bypass, and the defect is eliminated.
In most of the world-class hospitals in India, a more minimally invasive approach to ASD surgery has been accepted. Nowadays, the transcatheter closure technique is used widely to treat atrial septal defects in children. This allows a faster recovery as well as reduced physical impact.
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Fallot’s Tetralogy (TOF) Surgery
Fallot’s Tetralogy is one of the most common heart defects in children. In this defect, too, the pure and impure blood mix causes trouble in the cardiovascular system. As the name suggests, this defect comprises four problems:
- Right Ventricular Hypertrophy: In this defect, the size of the right lower chamber of the heart increases.
- Ventricular Septal Defect: In ventricular septal defect, a hole emerges in the wall separating the two ventricles.
- Abnormal Position of the Aorta: Due to the abnormality, the aorta is situated at the right side of the heart instead of the left.
- Pulmonary Stenosis: This results from the narrowing of the pulmonary valve opening. Further, this prevents the flow of blood from the right ventricle.
The only effective treatment for Fallot’s Tetralogy is surgery. These surgical options include intracardiac repair surgery or other temporary treatments using a stunt. Based on the child’s condition, the surgery is determined by the doctor at an appropriate time.
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Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) Surgery
Similar to the other two defects, there is a hole in the wall separating the right and left ventricles in the heart in the Ventricular Septal Defect. This complication is usually found in infants, as it develops before birth.
Due to the hole in the wall, the oxygenated blood flows through and gets mixed with the unoxygenated blood in the heart. There are two chiefly popular surgical options practised for VSD Treatment. These are:
- Intra-Cardiac Technique: In this technique, open-heart surgery is performed on the patient under general anaesthesia. During the procedure, the child is attached to an external heart-lung machine. This machine is responsible for performing circulatory and respiratory functions while the surgery takes place.
- Trans-Catheter Technique: The catheter is inserted in the femoral artery at the groin. Surgical instruments are passed through and guided up towards the place of the defect, and then the surgeon closes the hole. Hence, the normal blood circulation resumes once the surgery is over.
Conclusion
Paediatric cardiac surgery has seen a rapid advancement in recent years. Combined with experience and technique, the surgery takes place for children with severe heart conditions.
Not all heart conditions require surgery, but some unavoidable defects require professional supervision and immediate treatment. Hospitals like Max Healthcare in India are the flag bearers for excellent treatment and rehabilitation after the procedure.
