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Conditions & Diseases: Cardiovascular System

Congenital Heart Disease

See Also:
Congenital Heart Disease: Introduction
Congenital Heart Disease: Types
Congenital Heart Disease: Causes & Risk Factors
Congenital Heart Disease: Signs & Symptoms
Congenital Heart Disease: Medical Tests & Diagnosis Methods
Congenital Heart Disease: Treatment & Prevention Options

Treatment Options

Treatment options for congenital heart defects include:

I. Medications

Some of the medications most commonly prescribed include diuretics and digoxin. The diuretics aid the infant in excreting water and salts. Digoxin strengthens the contraction of heart, slows the heart beat and removes fluid from tissues (28).

II. Usage of Catheters:

A. Atrial Septal Defect: In this procedure, a catheter is guided through a vein and threaded into the heart to the septum. At this point, a tiny umbrella-like device folded up inside the catheter is positioned so as to plug the opening in the septum and the device is secured before the catheter is withdrawn from the body.

B. Pulmonary Valve Stenosis: In this method, a catheter is inserted through a vein and threaded into the heart to the pulmonary valve. Then, a tiny balloon at the end of the catheter is inflated to push apart the leaflets of the valve and the balloon withdrawn along with the catheter after deflation.

III. Surgical Procedures:

Open heart surgery is performed in order to:

A. Close holes in the heart with stitches or with a patch

B. Repair or replace heart valves

C. Widen arteries or openings to heart valves

D. Repair complex defects

E. Heart transplantation, where the repair is not possible (25).

Prevention Methods

Congenital heart defects cannot be prevented, but certain measures taken before and during pregnancy can help reduce the risk of having a baby with congenital heart defects. The steps to be taken include:

1. Taking of multivitamin tablets containing 400 micrograms of folic acid can avoid serious birth defects of brain and spinal cord and may also help prevent congenital heart defects.

2. A pre-conception visit could help in testing for immunity from rubella and vaccination administered if the woman is not immune.

3. Women suffering from diabetes and phenylketonuria (PKU) must be adjusted with the necessary medication and eating habits to keep these conditions under control before and during pregnancy.

4. Pregnant women must avoid people suffering from flu or other viral infections.

5. Pregnant women must avoid exposure to organic solvents used in paints, varnishes and degreasing or cleaning agents (24).

See Also:
Congenital Heart Disease: Introduction
Congenital Heart Disease: Types
Congenital Heart Disease: Causes & Risk Factors
Congenital Heart Disease: Signs & Symptoms
Congenital Heart Disease: Medical Tests & Diagnosis Methods
Congenital Heart Disease: Treatment & Prevention Options

Article by Kona Vishnu, MS
Medical Writer,
OmniMedicalSearch.com

Sources

  1. Congenital Heart Defects, Medicinenet.com, May 2008.
  2. Aortic Atresia, About Kids Health, Heart Conditions, June 2004.
  3. Aortic Stenosis, About Kids Health, Heart Conditions, June 2004.
  4. Atrial Septal Defect, About Kids Health, Heart Conditions, June 2004.
  5. Atrioventricular Septal Defect (AVSD), About Kids Health, Heart Conditions, June 2004.
  6. Bicuspid Aortic Valve, About Kids Health, Heart Conditions, June 2004.
  7. Coarctation of the Aorta, About Kids Health, Heart Conditions, June 2004.
  8. Dextrocardia, About Kids Health, Heart Conditions, June 2004.
  9. Ebstein's Anomaly, About Kids Health, Heart Conditions, June 2004.
  10. Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS), About Kids Health, Heart Conditions, June 2004.
  11. Interrupted Aortic Arch, About Kids Health, Heart Conditions, June 2004.
  12. Mitral Valve Prolapse, About Kids Health, Heart Conditions, June 2004.
  13. Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA), About Kids Health, Heart Conditions, June 2004.
  14. Pulmonary Atresia, About Kids Health, Heart Conditions, June 2004.
  15. Pulmonary Stenosis, About Kids Health, Heart Conditions, June 2004.
  16. Single Ventricle Anomalies, About Kids Health, Heart Conditions, June 2004.
  17. Tetralogy of Fallot, About Kids Health, Heart Conditions, June 2004.
  18. Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return (TAPVR), About Kids Health, Heart Conditions, June 2004.
  19. Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA), About Kids Health, Heart Conditions, June 2004.
  20. Tricuspid Atresia, About Kids Health, Heart Conditions, June 2004.
  21. Truncus Arteriosus, About Kids Health, Heart Conditions, June 2004.
  22. Vascular Ring, About Kids Health, Heart Conditions, June 2004.
  23. Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD), About Kids Health, Heart Conditions, June 2004.
  24. Congenital Heart Defects, March of Dimes, Professionals & Researchers, 2008
  25. Congenital Heart Defects, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute
  26. Heart Disease: Congenital Heart Disease, Heart Disease Guide, WebMd
  27. Electrocardiogram, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute  
  28. Congenital Heart Disease, Health AtoZ, Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, Melissa Knopper, 2002
  29. Congenital Heart Disease, Your Total Health, Fred Weiss & Robert Hamby

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Page Last Modified:
04/15/2009