Symptoms of ventricular septal defect in newborns

Newborns with ventricular septal defect may experience symptoms such as shortness of breath, difficulty feeding, and poor weight gain, especially heart murmurs, so they should seek medical attention as soon as possible to get a clear diagnosis and develop a treatment plan. Early intervention is very important because the disease has the potential to seriously affect heart health.

1Main symptoms of ventricular septal defect in newborns

Ventricular septal defect refers to the presence of an abnormal channel between the left and right ventricles of a newborn's heart. The abnormal flow of blood between the left and right ventricles can cause a series of symptoms.

Heart Murmur: A sinus heart murmur is the most common initial sign and is usually detected by a doctor during auscultation of the heart.

Shortness of breath: Due to abnormal heart function and the body's increased demand for oxygen, newborns may experience rapid, irregular breathing, or even gasping.

Difficulty in feeding and lack of weight gain: Disrupted blood flow to the heart can lead to increased energy consumption, frequent interruptions in feeding, fatigue, sweating, etc., which in turn affects normal weight gain.

Lower limb edema or weakness: In rare cases, the increased burden on the heart may cause circulatory disorders, leading to mild limb edema and fatigue.

2 Diagnosis and treatment of ventricular septal defect

A ventricular septal defect is diagnosed by auscultation of the heart or by echocardiography. Depending on the size of the defect and the severity of symptoms, treatment may include:

Drug treatment: For people with small ventricular septal defects and mild symptoms, doctors may temporarily use drugs to improve heart function and blood flow disorders. Common drugs include diuretics such as furosemide, positive inotropic drugs such as digoxin, or vasodilators. These drugs help control the workload on the heart and improve overall symptoms.

Minimally invasive occlusion: Minimally invasive interventional treatment can be chosen for moderate defects. The occluder is implanted through a catheter to repair the heart defect, which has small trauma and quick recovery.

Surgical repair: For more severe ventricular septal defects, especially large ones, surgical repair is usually recommended for infants. The surgical method includes direct suturing or implanting a patch to restore the integrity of the ventricle.

3. Nursing and daily management

In addition to medical treatment, home care is also crucial.

Regular follow-up: Check your heart condition regularly as recommended by your doctor and monitor the progress of defect healing.

Nutritional support: Give high-nutrient foods to help newborns overcome feeding challenges. If necessary, feed through a gastric tube.

Prevention of infection: Newborns with heart disease are more sensitive to infection and should receive enhanced daily care, injection of necessary vaccines, and avoidance of crowds to reduce the risk of infection.

For newborns with ventricular septal defect, early detection and intervention can help improve the prognosis of the disease. When parents find that their newborns have the above symptoms, they should take their children to the doctor for a clear diagnosis in time, and follow the doctor's advice for treatment and care to ensure that their children have the opportunity to grow up healthily.