Congenital Heart Disease in Children by Dr. Neville Solomon, Consultant, MBBS, MS, MCh

Dr. Neville Solomon is one of the best pediatric cardiac surgeons in India having more than 20 years of experience. Dr. Solomon specializes in cardiac surgeries on newborn babies with complicated cardiac conditions and has performed over 3000 successful surgeries. He treats adults with congenital heart disease also.

Dr. Solomon completed his MBBS from Madras Medical College, MS from Medical College Hospital, Trivandrum, and Mch in Cardio-Thoracic Surgery from Madras Medical College. He has worked in Green Lane Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand, where he was the Registrar for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. Currently, Dr. Solomon heads a unit of cardiology in Apollo Hospitals, Greams Road Chennai.

Dr. Solomon is the founding Chairman of the Alfred Solomon Heart Foundation (www.ashf.co.in), a charitable, non-profit trust, which, provides financial aid to children who come from the lower economic strata and suffer from heart diseases. Dr. Neville Solomon also formed the Save A Child’s Heart Initiative Program at Apollo Hospitals.

Congenital Heart Disease in Children

Congenital heart defects are defined as structural abnormalities of the heart and are present in a child from birth. The structural abnormality may occur in the walls of the heart, the valves, or the blood vessels supplying blood to and from the heart. This abnormality may disrupt the normal flow of blood and deprive the body of essential oxygen and nutrients.

Congenital heart defects are common in children. Nearly 1 in every 1000 babies are born with a congenital heart defect. The severity of the heart defect defines the extent of disability and quality of life. Common heart defects are:

• Ventricular Septal Defect
• Atrial Septal Defect
• Single Ventricle Defect
• Pulmonary Valve Stenosis
• Patent Ductus Arteriosus
• Aortic Valve Stenosis
• Tetralogy of Fallot

Dr. Neville Solomon is one of the top doctors that treat congenital heart disease in children at Apollo Hospitals in Chennai.

Congenital Heart Disease Symptoms

Symptoms of congenital heart disease may vary. The most common symptoms are:

• Blue lips and skin
• Rapid breathing and heartbeat
• Shortness of breath
• Tiredness or fatigue
• Fainting spells
• Swelling in hands or legs

If the congenital heart defect is severe, the symptoms may appear at birth or shortly after. Symptoms for milder heart defects begin to show as the child grows older. A check-up with the best pediatric cardiac surgeons in India is an absolute must if symptoms occur in a child.

Congenital Heart Disease Complications

Children with congenital heart diseases may develop complications in other areas. These may be:

• Slow growth and development
• Infections of the respiratory tract
• Infections in the heart
• Increased blood pressure
• Heart Failure

Congenital Heart Disease Diagnosis

It is possible to diagnose congenital heart diseases during a regular pregnancy ultrasound. However, as the fetus develops, some defects may resolve on their own. Therefore, diagnosis for congenital heart defects may require certain tests after birth. Apollo Hospitals Chennai has a team of the best pediatric cardiology in Chennai to diagnose congenital heart disease in children.

• Foetal Echocardiography: Foetal echocardiography is a specialized ultrasound, that uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of the foetal heart. It is done at about 22 weeks of pregnancy. Echocardiography can confirm a suspected heart defect in an earlier routine ultrasound. Echocardiography may be done if there is a history of congenital heart defects in the family. Only severe heart defects can be seen with foetal echocardiography. Echocardiography may be done after the birth of the baby.
• Electrocardiogram or ECG: This is a standard test used to detect the electrical activity of the heart and check the heartbeat.
• Chest X-ray: An X-ray of the chest can detect abnormal levels of fluids or blood in the lungs or size of the heart, both indications of heart disease.
• Pulse Oximetry: This is used to test for the level of oxygen saturation in the blood.
• Cardiac Catheterization: A catheter guided by an X-ray or MRI Scanner is inserted through a major artery or vein. It can be used to measure the pressure and check for blood flow.
• Angiogram: A dye is inserted through a catheter to highlight the flow of blood in certain areas of the heart and lung to be accessed.

Diagnosis of congenital heart disease is done by a special team of doctors trained in pediatric cardiology. The best pediatric cardiac surgeons in Chennai or Delhi can help to accurately diagnose the heart condition.

Congenital Heart Disease Treatment

The treatment for congenital heart disease depends on the kind of heart defect. At times, the child may not require any treatment at all while in some cases surgery may be the only treatment option available.

Most congenital heart defects that are mild and not considered heart life-threatening may simply require management via outpatient treatment for life. In some cases, medications (diuretics, digoxin) may help to alleviate the symptoms.

Surgery or a catheter intervention process may be necessary for severe cases of heart defects.  

Conclusion

As compared to a time in the past, the percentage of children surviving with congenital heart disease has improved from 15 percent to 90 percent. Advanced medical technology aids children with congenital heart disease to live a good quality of life. Apollo Hospitals Chennai has one of the best pediatric cardiac care facilities in the country.