Which department should I go to for examination of my baby's ventricular septal defect?

Your baby's ventricular septal defect needs to be checked by a pediatric cardiologist or cardiovascular specialist, who are the most suitable departments to accurately diagnose the condition and develop a treatment plan. Ventricular septal defect (VSD) is a congenital heart disease that is usually diagnosed through a detailed echocardiogram.

To confirm a ventricular septal defect, you first need to perform a professional echocardiogram, which is the most commonly used and non-invasive examination method. It can accurately assess the location, size and blood flow of the defect. If further diagnosis is needed, the doctor may recommend a cardiac CT or MRI examination. These two imaging examinations can observe the heart's anatomy in more detail. Some complex cases may require a cardiac catheterization to evaluate cardiac function and hemodynamic status. The doctor may perform an electrocardiogram and chest X-ray during the initial consultation to screen for abnormalities in heart size and heart rate.

For the treatment of ventricular septal defect, small defects may not be treated, and only regular check-ups are required, because small defects may close naturally; moderate and above defects require drug treatment or surgical treatment according to the baby's heart function status. Drugs include diuretics, ACE inhibitors and cardiotonic drugs, which are mostly used to control the symptoms of heart failure. If surgery is required, the options may be open-chest surgery to repair the defect, interventional closure or reconstructive surgery, and the specific plan needs to be determined according to the condition. During the diagnosis and treatment process, parents need to visit the professional department regularly for follow-up visits, follow the doctor's advice, and pay attention to the baby's nutrition and hygiene to avoid infection.