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By Argentina Chrappa
History
Pediatric cardiac surgery began when Dr. Gross performed the first successful surgery. August 8, 1938 Childrens Hospital of Boston
Symptoms
Typically diagnosed in infancy or before birth Symptoms include:
Affects on Family
The presence of a serious CHD often results in an enormous emotional and financial strain on families Family education is an important part of successful coping.
Grubers Study
Gruber collected DNA samples from 300 children with CHD and from 2,200 healthy children The research team looked for gene variants (mutations) in the DNA of genes in or near the ISL1 gene. When combined with results from the genetics team at the University of Michigan, the researchers found eight of these alternative spellings in DNA bases (singlenucleotide polymorphisms, or SNPs) raised the risk of CHD.
Treatment
Medication: Some medicines can control a heartbeat that isn't regular. Others make the heart stronger until a defect can be fixed. Heart Catheterization: A procedure that can find out details about the defect, or possibly repair it. Surgery: It can repair a structural defect.
Identification of Disease
Most congenital heart defects are found during a pregnancy ultrasound. When a defect is found, a pediatric heart doctor be there when the baby is delivered - which could save its life. Anyone can have a child with a congenital heart defect. Out of 1,000 births, 9 babies will have some form of CHD. If you or a family member has already had a baby with CHD, your risk of having a baby with CHD may be higher.
Bioethical Considerations
It is unclear how CHD patients should be transitioned from pediatric to adult cardiology providers. Most adult cardiologists are ill-equipped to care for their special needs. Success in the treatment of CHD comes at a price. Not only are therapies and follow up care increasingly costly, but also some patients will suffer a reduced quality of life.
Bioethical Considerations
Heart transplant provides a solution for many children with complex congenital lesions, but it then subjects them to the side effects of life-long immunosuppressive therapy. Many will require re-transplant and currently there are not enough donors for all who require life-saving transplants.
Bibliography