What is Pediatric Heart Surgery?

Pediatric heart surgery is executed to repair heart defects that children are born with (congenital heart defects) or heart diseases a child develops after birth. This surgery is compulsory for the well-being of the child.

 

There are many kinds of heart defects. Defects can occur inside the heart or outside the heart in the large blood vessels. Some defects in the heart may need surgery immediately after the child is born. For some, it may be suitable to wait safely for months or years to have surgery.

 

In some cases, one surgery may be enough to repair the heart defect. However, sometimes a series of procedures are needed.

 

 

A Good Candidate for Pediatric Heart Surgery

In general, symptoms that indicate a child is a good candidate for surgery:

· Blue or gray skin, lips, and nail beds (cyanosis). These symptoms mean there is not enough oxygen in the blood (hypoxia).

· Trouble breathing due to congested lungs, or fluid-filled (heart failure)

· Problems with the child's heart rate or heart rhythm (arrhythmias)

· Poor feeding or sleeping, and lack of growth and development of a child

 

 

Pediatric Heart Surgery Procedure

Open-heart surgery is when a heart-lung bypass machine is used and an incision is made through the breastbone (sternum) by the surgeon while the child is under general anesthesia. Then tubes are used to re-route the blood through a special pump machine. This adds oxygen to the blood and keeps the blood warm and moving through the rest of the body while the surgeon is repairing the heart.

 

Open-heart surgery is aided by a heart-lung bypass machine. An incision is made through the breastbone (sternum) by the surgeon while the child is under general anesthesia. Tubes are used to re-route the blood through a special pump machine. This adds oxygen to the blood and keeps the blood warm and moving throughout the rest of the body while the surgeon is repairing the heart.

 

This machine allows the heart to be stopped. Stopping the heart makes it possible to repair the heart muscle and heart valves, or the blood vessels outside the heart. Once the repair is complete, the pump is removed, the heart starts to beat and the incision is sutured.

 

For some heart defect repairs, the incision is made on the side of the chest, between the ribs. This is referred to as thoracotomy. It is also called closed-heart surgery, which is assisted by image-guided instruments.

 

Another way to fix defects in the heart is to insert small tubes into an artery in the leg and pass them up to the heart. This type of surgery is rare.

 

 

Risks and Side Effects for Pediatric Heart Surgery

Hospitals that perform heart surgery on children have medical experts specially trained to perform these surgeries. There are also members in the medical staff who willing to take care of child patient after surgery.

Risks for any surgery:

Bleeding during surgery or the days after surgery Adverse reaction to medicines Trouble breathing Infection Blood clots Pneumonia Heartbeat problems Heart attack Stroke

 

Recovery from Pediatric Heart Surgery

Children who endure open-heart surgery typically stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) up to 5 days after surgery. They usually stay in the hospital for 5-7 additional days after they leave the ICU. For patients who have closed-heart surgery, the stay is shorter.

 

During the time in the ICU, the child will have a tube (endotracheal tube) inserted and a respirator to help with breathing. The child will be sedated while on the respirator. One or more small tubes in the vein (IV line) give fluids and medicine through the artery (arterial line).

 

Small tubes are also employed to drain air, blood, and fluid from the chest cavity. Tubes may be employed in the nose through the stomach (nasogastric tube) to empty the stomach and deliver medicines and feedings for several days. A tube is used in the bladder to drain and measure the urine for several days.

 

Your child will be encouraged to start many of their regular daily activities once you return home. Some children may begin eating or drinking on their own within 1 or 2 days, but others may take longer.

 

Your doctor will instruct you on specific instructions as to the care that should be given at home.

 

Results of Pediatric Heart Surgery

Your child will need several weeks at home to recover and will need follow-up visits with a cardiologist (heart doctor) every 6 to 12 months.

 

The outcome of heart surgery depends on the child's condition, the type of defect, and the type of surgery that was done. Many children recover completely and lead normal, active lives.