Treatment of Congenital Heart Disease (CHD)
The treatment of congenital heart disease (CHD) depends on the type, severity, and symptoms of the defect. While some mild cases may not require intervention, moderate to severe conditions often need medical or surgical treatment.
1. Medications
Certain medications help manage symptoms and improve heart function. These include:
- Diuretics to reduce fluid buildup and ease the heart’s workload.
- Beta-blockers to control heart rate and blood pressure.
- ACE inhibitors to relax blood vessels and improve circulation.
- Prostaglandins to keep the ductus arteriosus open in critical conditions like transposition of the great arteries (TGA).
2. Catheter-Based Procedures
Minimally invasive techniques are used to correct certain heart defects without open surgery:
- Balloon angioplasty: Used to widen narrowed heart valves or vessels.
- Septal defect closure: Small holes like atrial septal defect (ASD) and ventricular septal defect (VSD) can be closed using a catheter-based device.
- Stent placement: Used to keep narrowed vessels open.
3. Surgery
Severe CHD cases often require surgical intervention, including:
- Open-heart surgery: Used to repair structural defects like tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) or coarctation of the aorta.
- Fontan procedure: Performed in single-ventricle defects to improve circulation.
- Heart transplant: Considered in rare, severe cases where the heart is too damaged to function properly.
4. Long-Term Care and Lifestyle Management
Many CHD patients require lifelong monitoring by a cardiologist. Regular check-ups, a heart-healthy diet, exercise (as advised), and infection prevention (e.g., antibiotics before dental procedures) are crucial for long-term health. Advances in treatment have significantly improved survival and quality of life for CHD patients.