How to treat severe ventricular septal defect in newborns

If the ventricular septal defect in a newborn is severe, medication, interventional therapy, or surgery may be needed to effectively improve heart function and avoid complications. The treatment plan depends on the size and location of the defect and the specific manifestations of the disease.

1. Drug treatment:

For some children with mild symptoms who need to control complications, doctors may use drugs to reduce the workload on the heart or control the symptoms of heart failure. For example:

Use of cardiotonic drugs such as digoxin to enhance myocardial contractility;

Diuretics such as furosemide reduce fluid retention and relieve stress on the heart;

Vasodilators such as captopril reduce the workload on the heart.

Medication is usually a temporary improvement measure that cannot actually repair the defect and is suitable for situations where surgery or natural healing is awaited.

2Interventional occlusion surgery:

If the defect symptoms are not yet life-threatening, but the impact is significant and the possibility of spontaneous healing is low, the doctor may recommend minimally invasive surgery to close the defect.

This surgery usually uses a catheter inserted into the heart to close the hole with a special device;

The surgery involves little trauma and provides quick recovery, making it the first choice for a large number of mild and moderate cases in recent times.

3Surgical repair:

For children with severe ventricular septal defects or other complex heart malformations, surgical repair is an indispensable treatment option.

Surgery requires doctors to open the chest and repair the defect with sutures or patches;

This approach is suitable for cases where the defect is large or the condition is complex and life-threatening;

The success rate of surgery is relatively high, but it requires a certain recovery period and requires the support of medical conditions and timing.

Tips:

Severe ventricular septal defect has a significant impact on cardiac function and neonatal growth and development. The earlier the intervention, the better the prognosis. Parents should take their children for regular follow-up and listen to the treatment advice of cardiologists. Do not delay the course of the disease or treat it on your own. Good postoperative care and regular follow-up are also important guarantees for successful treatment. It is recommended to work with doctors to develop a long-term health management plan.