Treatment for congenital heart disease generally varies according to the defect you or your child has. Minor defects, such as holes in the heart, often don’t need to be treated, as they may improve on their own and may not cause any further difficulties.
Surgery or interventional procedures are typically required if the defect is major and causing difficulties. Modern surgical techniques can usually restore most or all of the heart’s normal function.
In spite of this, people with congenital heart disease usually need treatment during their life and as a result, need specialist review throughout childhood and adulthood. This is because people with complex heart problems can acquire further problems with their heart valves or rhythm over time.
Most surgery and interventional procedures aren’t counted as a cure. The patient’s ability to exercise may possibly be limited and they may need to take further steps to protect themselves from getting infections.
It’s important that a person with heart disease and their parents or caretakers discuss these issues with their specialist medical team.
National Congenital Anomaly and Rare Disease Registration Service
If your child has congenital heart disease, your clinical team will hand over information about them on to the National Congenital Anomaly and Rare Disease Registration Service (NCARDRS).
The NCARDRS helps scientists look for better ways to treat and prevent congenital heart disease. You can go for the register at any time.
Structure and Compartments of the heart
The heart is separated into 4 main sections called chambers. These are recognized as the:
- left atrium (collects oxygenated blood returning from both lungs)
- left ventricle (the main pumping chamber for the whole body)
- right atrium (collects blood returning from the whole body)
- right ventricle (pumps deoxygenated blood to both lungs)
There are also 4 valves keeping under control how the blood flows through the heart and around the body. These are recognized as the:
- mitral valve (separating the left ventricle from the left atrium)
- aortic valve (separating the main artery from the left ventricle, the aorta)
- tricuspid valve (separating the right ventricle from the right atrium)
- pulmonary valve (separating the pulmonary artery to the lung from the right ventricle)
Congenital heart disease can occur if any of these valves or chambers doesn’t develop properly while a baby is in the womb.
In the end, don’t forget that congenital heart disease is actually a common deficiency.