What should I do if a ventricular septal defect causes feeding difficulties?

Written by Di Zhi Yong

Cardiology

Updated on February 11, 2025

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If the patient has a ventricular septal defect, it is still recommended that the patient seek hospital treatment. A murmur can be heard in the precordial area, and it is also advisable for the patient to undergo an echocardiogram to check if the defect is too large. If there is difficulty feeding during breastfeeding, it is personally advised not to breastfeed. Formula can be used instead, because if heart failure is not handled in a timely manner, it may sometimes worsen the symptoms.

Since this is a congenital heart disease, the current treatment is primarily surgical. Medical treatment in internal medicine is not very effective and is prone to recurrence. During this period, it is also important to monitor changes in the patient's heart rate, blood pressure, and pulse. If there is an accelerated heart rate or increased blood pressure, these need to be addressed.

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Written by Li Hai Wen

Cardiology

43sec

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Is a 12mm atrial septal defect serious?

Atrial septal defect (ASD) is a fairly common congenital heart disease in pediatric cardiology. For infants and young children, atrial septal defects can be categorized based on their size into three types: A large atrial septal defect typically refers to a defect larger than 10 millimeters. A medium atrial septal defect generally refers to a defect that ranges from 5 to 10 millimeters. A small atrial septal defect usually refers to a defect that is less than 5 millimeters. Therefore, for an infant or young child, an atrial septal defect measuring 12 millimeters would indeed be considered quite severe.

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Written by Tang Li

Cardiology

59sec

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What are the symptoms of an atrial septal defect?

Atrial septal defect is the most common congenital heart disease in adults, accounting for 20%-30% of adult congenital heart diseases, with a higher incidence in females than males, with a male to female ratio of about 1:1.5-3. There is also a familial tendency. Apart from larger defects, children with atrial septal defects generally show no symptoms. As they age, symptoms gradually appear, with exertional dyspnea being the main symptom, followed by supraventricular arrhythmias, especially atrial flutter and fibrillation, which exacerbate the symptoms. Some patients may develop right heart failure due to excessive right ventricular volume load. In the late stages, about 15% of patients develop severe pulmonary hypertension, resulting in a right-to-left shunt and cyanosis.

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Written by Li Hai Wen

Cardiology

32sec

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Can atrial septal defect heal by itself?

Atrial septal defect is a relatively common congenital heart disease in infants and toddlers. It is indeed possible for a child's atrial septal defect to close on its own. Some atrial septal defects can close as the child grows. Depending on the severity, atrial septal defects can be categorized into small defects. Generally, if the defect is less than 5 millimeters, it is possible for the defect to close as the child develops. If it has not closed by the age of two, it generally will not close on its own thereafter.

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Written by Tang Li

Cardiology

58sec

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Do infant atrial septal defects heal by themselves?

Atrial septal defect is a common congenital heart disease, accounting for about 1/1500 of newborns, and is most commonly found in infants and children. The impact of atrial septal defects on hemodynamics mainly depends on the amount of shunting. Some studies confirm that atrial septal defects smaller than six millimeters can close on their own without external intervention. Therefore, when an atrial septal defect is discovered, it is necessary to regularly recheck the cardiac echocardiography to determine the size of the defect. If the atrial septal defect decreases in size as the patient ages, there is a possibility of self-healing. If the area of the patient's atrial septal defect does not change or gradually increases, regular echocardiography rechecks are needed, and cardiac catheterization may be performed if necessary.

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Written by Tang Li

Cardiology

1min 13sec

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How to treat atrial septal defect

Typical cardiac murmur ECG and X-ray findings may suggest the presence of an atrial septal defect. An echocardiogram can confirm the diagnosis, and it should be differentiated from conditions such as anomalous pulmonary venous return, pulmonary valve stenosis, and small ventricular septal defects. For the treatment of atrial septal defects, in adult patients, if echocardiographic evidence of increased right ventricular volume load is present, the defect should be closed as soon as possible. Treatment options include interventional and open-heart surgical procedures. Before the implementation of interventional surgeries, all cases of simple atrial septal defects that have caused hemodynamic changes, with signs of increased pulmonary blood flow, enlargement of the atria and ventricles, and corresponding ECG findings, should undergo surgical treatment. In older patients with severe pulmonary hypertension, surgical treatment should be approached with caution.