Congenital Heart Defects
Heart Care by Dr Tamkeen Kinah
Congenital Heart Defects
The heart is a remarkable organ, a tireless pump that sustains life from before birth. However, sometimes, the heart’s intricate structure doesn’t form ideally during foetal development, leading to conditions known as congenital heart defects (CHD).
These structural problems with the heart are present from birth and range from simple, symptom-free conditions to complex issues requiring immediate intervention.
Dr Tamkeen Kinah understands the profound impact a diagnosis of congenital heart defects can have on families.
Dr Tamkeen Kinah is a dedicated specialist committed to the comprehensive management of congenital heart disease, offering expert diagnosis, advanced congenital heart defects treatment, and compassionate long-term care for patients of all ages.
What are congenital heart defects?
Congenital heart conditions are the most prevalent birth-related health issue. They involve abnormalities in the heart’s structure, affecting its walls, valves, or blood vessels, and altering the normal flow of blood through the heart.
In many cases, the causes of congenital heart defects cannot be clearly determined. Still, they can sometimes be linked to genetic factors (e.g., Down syndrome), environmental exposures during pregnancy (e.g., certain infections or medications), or a combination of both.
Timely medical care and individualised treatment of congenital heart defects are key to managing the condition effectively and improving survival rates.
Understanding the types of congenital heart defects
The spectrum of congenital heart defects is broad, impacting different parts of the heart and circulatory system. While a complete congenital heart defects chart would be extensive, common categories include:
- Holes in the heart walls: Atrial and ventricular septal defects are common forms of congenital heart defects that result in blood mixing between the heart’s chambers.
- Heart valve defects: Where valves may be too narrow (stenosis), leaky (regurgitation), or improperly formed, hindering blood flow.
- Blood vessel defects: Issues with the major arteries and veins connected to the heart, affecting blood circulation to the lungs or body.
- Complex defects: Conditions such as tetralogy of fallot or transposition of the great arteries represent complex defects with multiple anatomical issues.
These conditions can manifest as paediatric congenital heart defects diagnosed at birth or in early childhood, or sometimes remain undetected until adulthood, leading to the diagnosis of congenital heart defects in children or adults later in life.
Recognising congenital heart defect symptoms
The symptoms of congenital heart defects vary widely depending on the type and severity of the defect. In infants and young children, common signs might include:
- Cyanosis, which appears as a bluish discolouration of the skin, lips, or nails, may be present.
- Rapid breathing or shortness of breath.
- Difficulty feeding or poor weight gain.
- Swelling in the legs, abdomen, or around the eyes.
- Easy tiring during feeding or play.
In adults, congenital heart defects symptoms may emerge or worsen, including:
- Shortness of breath, especially during exertion.
- Fatigue and low energy.
- Chest pain or palpitations (irregular heartbeats).
- Swelling in the ankles, feet, or abdomen.
- Dizziness or fainting.
Seek medical evaluation right away if you notice any of these warning signs.
Comprehensive treatment of CHD
Treating congenital heart defects is highly individualised, determined by the specific defect, its severity, the patient’s age, and overall health. Treating congenital heart defects aims to correct the structural abnormality, improve heart function, and enhance the patient’s quality of life.
Dr Tamkeen Kinah provides a full spectrum of advanced treatments for congenital heart disease, including:
Medications: Often used to manage symptoms, improve heart function, prevent complications like blood clots, or control blood pressure.
Interventional catheterisation procedures: These minimally invasive techniques involve inserting thin tubes (catheters) into blood vessels and guiding them to the heart. They can be used to:
Treating congenital heart defects is highly individualised, determined by the specific defect, its severity, the patient’s age, and overall health. Treating congenital heart defects aims to correct the structural abnormality, improve heart function, and enhance the patient’s quality of life.
Dr Tamkeen Kinah provides a full spectrum of advanced treatments for congenital heart disease, including:
Medications: Often used to manage symptoms, improve heart function, prevent complications like blood clots, or control blood pressure.
Interventional catheterisation procedures: These minimally invasive techniques involve inserting thin tubes (catheters) into blood vessels and guiding them to the heart. They can be used to:
- Close holes (e.g., ASD, PFO, some VSDs) using specialised devices.
- Widen narrowed valves or blood vessels (balloon angioplasty).
- Place stents to keep vessels open. For eligible patients, these procedures provide a minimally invasive option and play a vital role in the modern management of congenital heart disease.
Open-heart surgery: For more complex or larger defects, open-heart surgery may be necessary to repair or reconstruct parts of the heart directly. This could involve patching holes, repairing or replacing valves, or re-routing blood vessels.
Heart transplant: In rare, severe cases where the heart is irreversibly damaged and cannot be repaired, a heart transplant may be considered as a life-saving option.
Lifelong follow-up care: Ongoing, specialised follow-up is critical to managing congenital heart disease. Even after successful treatment, individuals with CHD require regular monitoring to assess heart function, manage potential long-term complications, and ensure optimal health throughout their lives.
This is particularly important for adults with congenital heart disease, who benefit from dedicated programmes .
Why choose Dr Tamkeen Kinah for congenital heart defects treatment?
It is paramount to choose the right specialist for the treatment of congenital heart defects. Dr Tamkeen Kinah brings extensive expertise, a deep understanding of complex cardiac conditions, and a compassionate approach to every patient.
With a focus on patient-specific care and access to state-of-the-art technologies, he provides targeted and effective treatment for congenital heart disease.
His commitment extends beyond treatment, offering continuous support to patients and their families from diagnosis through long-term management of congenital heart conditions.
Contact Dr Tamkeen Kinah today and take the first step towards expert care for congenital heart defects.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How much does congenital heart defect surgery cost?
Several factors influence the cost of congenital heart defect surgery, including the complexity of the defect, the procedure performed, length of hospitalisation, surgeon’s charges, anaesthesia expenses, and the hospital’s geographic location.
What is the best treatment for congenital heart disease?
There isn’t a single “best” treatment for congenital heart disease; the most effective approach is highly individualised. It depends on the specific type and severity of the defect, the patient’s age, and overall health.
Treatment options can range from medications and watchful waiting to minimally invasive interventional catheterisation procedures or open-heart surgery. A comprehensive evaluation by a qualified cardiologist like Dr Tamkeen Kinah is essential to determine the optimal treatment plan.
Can a baby survive a congenital heart defect?
Yes, many babies with congenital heart defects can and do survive, especially with advancements in early diagnosis and medical/surgical treatments.
While some defects are critical and life-threatening without intervention, many others can be successfully managed or repaired, allowing children to lead whole and healthy lives. The outlook has improved dramatically over recent decades.
At what age is congenital heart defect surgery done?
The age at which congenital heart defect surgery is performed varies widely depending on the nature and severity of the defect. Some critical defects may require immediate surgical intervention within the first few days or weeks of a baby’s life.
Other less urgent defects might be repaired in infancy, childhood, adolescence, or even adulthood if symptoms develop later. Your cardiologist will determine the optimal timing for any necessary intervention.