Patient's question:
I don't know what's going on, but my child has been misbehaving and crying non-stop recently. Even the hospital check-ups haven't helped. I'm asking if congenital ventricular septal defect in children requires surgery and at what age is it best to have the surgery.Doctor's answer:
Hello, the specific treatment for congenital ventricular septal defect in children depends on the condition. If the ventricular septal defect is within 5 millimeters, follow-up observation can be performed, with a cardiac ultrasound examination every six months. For ventricular septal defects larger than 5 millimeters, a cardiac ultrasound examination should be conducted every 3 to 4 months. Additionally, it is important to monitor changes in pulmonary artery pressure. If the pulmonary artery pressure exceeds 50 millimeters of mercury, surgery should be scheduled promptly. Children with ventricular septal defects larger than 10 millimeters should undergo regular ultrasound examinations to detect issues in a timely manner. Currently, clinical practice generally advocates for treating children under the age of 2. In some cases, interventional therapy can replace open-heart surgery for certain ventricular septal defects. Most patients with ventricular septal defects should undergo early surgical treatment, with the optimal age range being 1 to 7 years old. It is preferable to have the surgery before the age of 10 to avoid the development of severe pulmonary artery hypertension, which could result in the loss of the opportunity for surgery.