Paediatric Cardiology in Mukundapur

Paediatric cardiologists diagnose, treat, and manage the following types of cardiac disorders in children:

• Congenital heart disease: This is explained as gaps between chambers of the heart, valve difficulties, or aberrant blood vessels.

• Arrhythmias, or abnormal heart rhythms, are induced by the electrical system that governs the heartbeat. 

• Some paediatric cardiologists manage pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs) and systemic hypertension (high blood pressure in the body); however, sometimes paediatric pulmonologists (lung specialists) or paediatric nephrologists (kidney specialists) address it. 

It is a branch of medicine specialising in heart abnormalities in children younger than eighteen. It includes congenital problems, acquired cardiac disorders, and their diagnosis and treatment. Diagnostic methods used by paediatric cardiologists include electrocardiography and echocardiography. 

Depending on the requirements of each child, treatment modalities include medication, surgery, and interventional techniques. Early detection and treatment are essential for paediatric patients to have the best possible heart health and quality of life.
 

Following is a list of problems that are frequently treated by paediatric cardiologists: 

• Pulmonary atresia: This crucial deficiency arises when the pulmonary valve, which controls blood flow from the heart to the lungs, is not formed.

• A ventricular septal defect (VSD) is a condition where there is a hole between the heart's lower chambers (ventricles) that can cause the heart to work excessively. A big VSD may require surgery to close, but many close naturally as children grow. 

• Coarctation of the aorta is a constriction of the aorta, the body's biggest artery and the primary channel that transports blood from the heart to the rest of the body. It is frequently a serious abnormality.

• Truncus arteriosus is a serious heart abnormality that occurs when the aorta and pulmonary arteries fuse together to form a single artery. There is also an associated ventricular septal defect (VSD).

• Transposition of the major arteries: This crucial defect occurs when the two main blood channels that carry blood away from the heart—one to the rest of the body (the aorta) and the other to the lungs only (the pulmonary artery)—change positions during foetal development. 

• Hypoplastic left heart syndrome: This is a serious condition developed when the left side of the heart fails to develop properly in the womb. 

• The Tetralogy of Fallot is a critical heart defect when these four cardiac defects occur together: an opening between the heart's lower chambers (ventricular septal defect, or VSD); a narrowing of the pulmonary artery that delivers the blood from the heart to the lungs; an abnormality in the arteries that allows oxygen-deprived blood to reach the body right away instead of going to the lungs first; and an expanding of the right lower chamber of the heart (right ventricle).

• Atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD) is a condition that damages the valves and walls between the heart's upper (atria) and lower chambers, frequently resulting in severe valve leakage. 

• Total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVR) is a critical heart defect in which blood from the lungs (via the pulmonary veins) returns to the top right chamber of the heart (the right atrium) rather than the left atrium due to an abnormal connection between the pulmonary veins and the heart. 

• Tricuspid atresia is a serious condition in which the valve that regulates blood flow from the heart's right upper chamber (right atrium) to its right lower chamber (right ventricle) does not develop properly. 

Following are the signs and symptoms of heat issues in children:

• Low birth weight

• Chest pain

• Delayed growth and development

• The colour of the lips and skin changes

• Feeding difficulties are some of the most typical symptoms reported in children with congenital cardiac abnormalities. 

Other severe symptoms are described below:

• Frequent passing out or fainting: Syncope is another sign that reflects the gravity of the situation. Syncope is a disorder in which young children faint or pass out. Fainting may create grief for family members as well as internal and external harm. Children must be closely observed when dealing with heart-related symptoms and disorders.

• The murmuring of the heart: If you hear noises like lub-dub in your heartbeats, it could be a sign of a cardiac problem. When blood flows faster, the sound becomes much more powerful. 

• Regular chest pains: The child can complain about chest pains. If the youngster complains of regular chest pain, he or she should see a family doctor or general practitioner immediately.

Based on the results obtained from physical and diagnostic imaging, paediatric cardiologists may recommend medications, lifestyle modifications, surgery, or a combination of any three, depending on the severity of the condition, which include the following:

Medications, such as Digoxin or Furosemide, to address congenital heart disease, where the former helps to pump your child’s heart and slows the heart rate effectively, and the latter increases your child’s pumping function and assists the kidney to remove extra fluid.  

Lifestyle modifications, which include expert guidance and recommendations for your child’s diet and exercise
Surgery, where it can be either Open-surgery or Minimally invasive techniques based on your child’s condition 
 

There are a variety of cardiac conditions. Some of the common juvenile cardiac problems are: 

• Abnormal heartbeat (dysrhythmia)

• Bacterial endocarditis

• Coarctation of the aorta 

• Double outlet right ventricle 

• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy 

• Hypoplastic left heart syndrome 

• Hypoplastic right heart syndrome 

• An interrupted aortic arch 

• Kawasaki disease and Marfan syndrome 

• Partial abnormal pulmonary venous return 

• Patent ductus arteriosus

• Respiratory atresia 

• Restrictive cardiomyopathy 

• Rheumatic heart disease 

• Single ventricle Tetralogy of Fallot 

• Total abnormal pulmonary venous return

• Ventricular septal defect

Paediatric cardiac patients take medications to control their symptoms and heart rhythm. In extreme circumstances, surgical procedures like Heart Transplantation or Congenital Defect Correction may be required. Non-surgical solutions for specific diseases are provided by interventional treatments such as Stent Insertion or Heart Catheterisation. 

Dietary and activity changes in lifestyle support long-term heart health. Continued observation and post-treatment care are necessary to assess the efficacy of treatment. Multidisciplinary teams work together to offer complete care individualised for every kid. 
 

Several surgical interventions are offered by paediatric cardiologists that can be either Open or Minimally Invasive techniques based on your child’s conditions, which encompass:

• Closure Interventions for Atrial Septal and Ventricular Septal Defects to address holes present in the cardiac walls that separate the heart's upper and lower chambers, respectively

• Tetralogy of Fallot Repair, which treats four different heart issues, which include ventricular septal defect, pulmonary stenosis, overriding aorta, and right ventricular hypertrophy

• Fontan procedure, which addresses children with univentricular congenital heart disease and involves a procedure to facilitate the transport of deoxygenated blood to the pulmonary artery, thus bypassing the heart

• Ballon Dilation and Stenting procedure for narrow blood vessels in the heart

• Cardiac Catheterisation, is used to diagnose and treat heart conditions by providing detailed images of the heart, measuring blood flow, repairing defects, or widening narrowed vessels with balloons or stents

The majority of congenital cardiac defects have no recognised cause. However, numerous risk factors for the development of congenital cardiac disease have been identified. These include:

• Maternal variables include pre-gestational diabetes

• Maternal anti-seizure medication

• Maternal phenylketonuria

• Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in the mother

• Febrile sickness in the first trimester

• Maternal rubella

• Congenital heart disease in the family: A child is three times more likely to have CHD if a first-degree relative has the condition. 

• Some heart disorders are inherited autosomally, meaning each pregnancy has a 50% chance of producing a child with the same heart problem.

• Lack of folic acid intake during the periconceptional period 

• Chromosomal defects: Chromosome issues that lead to genetic syndromes, such as Down syndrome, frequently result in an increased risk of cardiac problems in neonates. Approximately 30% of kids born with chromosomal abnormalities will have a cardiac problem. 

• Single gene defects: Gene modifications (mutations) cause a variety of health disorders, which are classified as syndromes.

You can help your child maintain good cardiac health by using the following methods:

• Exercising together as a family and leading an active lifestyle

• Limiting your child’s screen time, thus reducing the risk of obesity and any cardiovascular disease

• Paying attention to your child's salt intake

• Making food that is balanced with essential nutrients

• Adhering to paediatric check-ups is especially important if the child has a family history of heart diseases

• Refraining from smoking to avoid any secondhand smoke or exposure

Some minor congenital heart defects, such as small holes in the heart (ASD or VSD), may close on their own as a child grows. However, more severe conditions often require intervention, and children may need lifelong monitoring.
 

Paediatric cardiologists use physical examinations, medical history evaluations, and diagnostic procedures such as cardiac catheterisation, echocardiography, and electrocardiography to identify cardiac issues in children. They carefully assess signs including cyanosis, chest discomfort, and cardiac murmurs. Identification of risk factors and family history of heart disease is aided by medical history. 

Echocardiography offers fine-grained pictures of the anatomy and physiology of the heart. While cardiac catheterisation enables direct observation and measurement of pressures within the heart and blood vessels, electrocardiography identifies abnormal heartbeats. For paediatric cardiac patients, these diagnostic technologies allow for accurate diagnosis and customised therapy regimens.
 

In paediatric cardiac care, early detection and treatment are essential for improving children's quality of life and outcomes. Early detection lowers risks and stops the progression of the disease by enabling timely intervention. Early intervention can reduce symptoms, stop additional heart damage, and improve overall health. 
It also encourages heart-healthy habits from an early age and helps with the better treatment of related illnesses. For interventions to be optimised and children's long-term heart health to be promoted, early detection and treatment must be given top priority.
 

To effectively manage their condition, children with cardiac issues need to be regularly monitored by a paediatric cardiologist. The severity of the ailment and the general health of the child determine how frequently the youngster needs to be seen. These visits are essential for tracking growth and development, evaluating the efficacy of the treatment, and early detection of any problems. Paediatric cardiologists offer advice on prescription drugs, dietary changes, and other therapies. Frequent observation enhances the child's quality of life and lowers the possibility of problems related to their cardiac condition.