How to treat congenital ventricular septal defect in babies

Congenital ventricular septal defect in babies can be treated with medication, minimally invasive interventional closure or surgery. The specific treatment method is selected according to the size of the defect and the symptoms. For children with mild symptoms, part of the defect may heal naturally as they grow, but for larger defects or those with severe symptoms, early intervention and treatment should be performed.

1. Drug treatment

When the ventricular septal defect is small and the symptoms are mild, drugs are often used to help relieve the burden on the heart and prevent complications. For example, digoxin can be used to enhance myocardial contractility, diuretics can be used to reduce pulmonary congestion and edema, and ACE inhibitors can be used to reduce the burden on the heart. Drug treatment is mainly used for symptom control in the stage where surgery is not suitable, but it cannot fundamentally solve the defect problem.

2Minimally invasive interventional occlusion

For some medium to large ventricular septal defects, minimally invasive interventional closure is a common option, which is to deliver the occluder to the defect site through a catheter to close the abnormal channel. This method has a smaller wound, faster recovery, and is suitable for most children, but the patient's heart structure and defect location must meet the surgical indications.

3Surgical repair

For children with severe ventricular septal defects or severe symptoms, surgical repair is the best way to fundamentally solve the problem. The operation is usually performed under general anesthesia, and the defect is sutured with a patch or directly sutured by opening the chest. Although the recovery time is slightly longer than that of minimally invasive surgery, the treatment effect is more comprehensive and has a wider range of applications.

If ventricular septal defect is not treated, it may cause serious complications such as pulmonary hypertension and heart failure. For children with a clear diagnosis and who need treatment, appropriate treatment should be selected under the guidance of a specialist. Regular follow-up after treatment is very important to evaluate the effectiveness of the surgery, prevent recurrence, and monitor overall health. If your baby is found to have similar symptoms or diagnosis results, it is recommended that parents take their children to the pediatric cardiology department of an authoritative hospital as soon as possible for further evaluation and to determine the best treatment plan.