Is ventricular septal defect serious in newborns?

A newborn's ventricular septal defect can be mild or severe, depending on the size and location of the defect and whether it is accompanied by other heart malformations. For mild ventricular septal defects, most can heal naturally as the baby grows; larger defects or those with other problems require close follow-up or even surgical treatment. Parents should take their children to see a doctor in time, and the doctor will develop the best treatment plan.

1 Causes of ventricular septal defect

Ventricular septal defect in newborns is a type of congenital heart disease, which is mainly caused by the combined effects of genetic and environmental factors.

Genetic factors: Babies with a family history of congenital heart disease are at a higher risk of developing ventricular septal defects.

Environmental factors: The mother's bad living habits or exposure to harmful substances during pregnancy, such as smoking, drinking, taking teratogenic drugs or exposure to radioactive substances, may increase the possibility of abnormal fetal heart development.

Physiological and pathological factors: In early pregnancy, fetal heart development abnormalities or embryonic viral infections such as rubella may cause ventricular septal defects.

2 Severity and symptoms of ventricular septal defect

Symptoms vary depending on the size of the defect:

Small defects: usually have no obvious symptoms and are often discovered accidentally during routine physical examinations.

Medium and large defects: May present with shortness of breath, feeding difficulties, frequent respiratory infections, growth retardation, and cyanosis of the lips. If not treated promptly, large defects may cause pulmonary hypertension, muscle strain, and even heart failure.

3 Treatments for ventricular septal defect

Depending on the severity of the defect, treatment is divided into conservative treatment and surgical intervention:

Conservative treatment: Small defects do not require special intervention, regular follow-up examinations are sufficient, and some defects can heal naturally with age.

Drug treatment: For children with medium or large defects who are temporarily unable to undergo surgery, drugs that reduce the burden on the heart and prevent infection, such as diuretics, cardiotonic drugs, and antibiotics, can be used.

Surgical treatment: Larger defects require surgical repair, including open-chest surgery to directly repair the gap with a patch or cardiac catheterization to seal the defect.

4Daily care and parental precautions

Continuous monitoring: Perform regular cardiac ultrasound as directed by your doctor to evaluate changes in the defect, and pay attention to the child's growth, development, and activity tolerance.

Prevent infection: Pay attention to oral care to avoid bacterial infection that may lead to endocarditis.

Adjusting feeding patterns and nutrition: Infants with severe impairments may need to be fed more frequently or supplemented with high-calorie formula to help them develop normally.

The severity of ventricular septal defect in newborns varies from person to person and needs to be determined through professional evaluation. Parents should maintain the habit of regular follow-up and follow the doctor's instructions; do not hesitate to treat the situation, because timely intervention can usually significantly improve the baby's health prognosis.