How long does it take for a person with complex congenital heart disease to live?

The life expectancy of patients with complex congenital heart disease is affected by the type of disease, treatment methods and personal physical condition. Some patients can live to adulthood or even old age through early surgical intervention and follow-up management, while some patients who are not treated in time may have their lifespan shortened to infancy. Common intervention methods include medication, surgical correction and lifestyle management.

1Classification and impact of complex congenital heart disease

Complex congenital heart diseases include tetralogy of Fallot, transposition of the great arteries, and total anomalous pulmonary venous connection. These heart malformations can lead to abnormal blood circulation, affect oxygen delivery, and cause heart failure or hypoxia symptoms. Untreated patients have a high risk of death in infancy, but if they receive timely intervention, their lives are expected to be significantly prolonged.

2 Factors affecting lifespan

Timing of treatment: Most complex congenital heart diseases require surgical correction during infancy and early childhood. Early diagnosis and treatment usually have better results.

Type of condition: If tetralogy of Fallot is well treated, some patients can live to be over 60 years old, while uncorrected transposition of the great arteries may have a higher risk of death in infancy.

Quality of treatment and postoperative management: Modern surgical techniques such as Fontan surgery, Glenn shunt, etc., comprehensive postoperative management and drug therapy can improve the quality of life and significantly prolong life.

3 Specific measures to improve life expectancy

Drug treatment: The use of diuretics, beta-blockers and cardiotonic drugs such as digitalis can relieve the symptoms of heart failure and improve heart function.

Surgical intervention: Palliative surgery or radical surgery in the neonatal period, such as arterial exchange and ventricular shunt, is the key to prolonging life. The surgical plan varies according to the condition, and the best implementation time and plan should be determined based on detailed evaluation.

Regular follow-up management: Regular cardiological evaluation is required after surgery to avoid infective endocarditis and pay attention to monitoring changes in cardiac function.

Healthy lifestyle: regular exercise, a balanced diet, quitting smoking and limiting alcohol consumption, controlling weight and avoiding mental stress can help maintain a healthy heart in the long term.

Early detection and intervention of complex congenital heart disease is the key to improving patients' life expectancy. Through timely surgery and scientific postoperative management, many patients can achieve a relatively normal life and extend it to young adulthood, middle age or later. If you have any questions or symptoms, you should immediately seek medical attention and seek evaluation by a cardiologist.