PREPARATIONS BEFORE SURGERY
Check-up examinations at regular intervals
It is extremely important to have regular check-ups in your child's treatment. After the diagnosis of congenital heart disease and heart surgery, follow-up appointments are given for days, weeks and months, and then the frequency of these appointments gradually decreases. Depending on your child's problem, regular examinations and examinations may be necessary. These examinations:
– Blood tests
– Electrocardiography (ECG)
– Holter examination with 24-hour ECGmonitoring
– Chest film
– Echocardiography
– Exercise test
– Angiography (heart catheterization) in the follow-up of some children ) is necessary.
Protection from Bacterial Endocarditis (Prophylaxis)
Bacterial endocarditis (BE)which interferes with the blood flow It is when bacteria settle on the inner surface of the heart, heart valves or blood vessels and cause infection.
Although BE disease is not very common, children with congenital heart disease have a higher risk of experiencing this disease. Therefore, protection (prophylaxis) is of great importance. Your child should be protected with antibiotics before surgery or dental procedures that cause bacteria to enter the bloodstream.
Almost all children who are being followed up for congenital heart disease and have not had surgery should use antibiotics to protect themselves from BE. It may be necessary to use antibiotics to protect against BE in some children who have undergone heart surgery. To prevent BE, the child should take antibiotics 1 or 2 hours before surgery or dental intervention.
American Heart Association (AHA) requires antibiotic prophylaxis before the following procedures:
– Tonsil and adenoid surgeries;
– Dental procedures that may cause bleeding in the gums or mouth
– Some gastrointestinal, reproductive and urinary tract surgeries and interventions
Your pediatric cardiologist will give you more detailed information about preventing BE and an endocarditis prophylaxis card indicating the antibiotic treatment to be applied. It is very important that you show this card to your dentist, pediatrician, family doctor and other physicians in order to give the appropriate antibiotics in appropriate doses when necessary. The dose of the medicine varies depending on your child's weight, the condition of his heart and the planned intervention.
Physical Activity and Sports
Most children with congenital heart disease are fully physically active. It can last a lifetime. There is no need to impose any restrictions on the daily activities of these children. However, parents may impose some unnecessary restrictions on their children's physical activities. This situation prevents your child from being together with his peers, causing a decrease in his physical condition and quality of life. For these reasons, pediatric cardiologists encourage your child to lead a physically active life. In this way, your child's heart and lung condition increases and he/she lives a better quality of life.
Expectant Mother with Congenital Heart Disease
Most patients who undergo a successful heart surgery can get married and can give birth normally after a natural pregnancy period. In some congenital heart diseases (severe heart disease or diseases with bruising), pregnancy can be dangerous for health and birth control methods must be used.
How to provide birth control is different for each patient. should be evaluated as. Some patients prefer to use other methods instead of birth control pills. Your cardiologist can advise you on which birth control method to choose. In general, the probability of giving birth to a child with congenital heart disease is approximately 1 in 100 births. This rate is slightly higher if siblings and siblings' children (girls or boys) have congenital heart disease and if the mother or father has congenital heart disease. In half of the children born with heart problems, the problem resembles the heart disease in the mother. Congenital heart diseases are diagnosed by echocardiography while the baby is in the womb. It can be felt.
The expectant mother should eat well during pregnancy and should not smoke or consume alcohol. Again, during this period, one should only use medications approved by his/her doctor.
- How will you feed your baby?
The height of babies with congenital heart diseases is usually normal. However, they generally gain weight more slowly.
Before your child is diagnosed with congenital heart disease, you may have decided to feed your baby with breast milk or formula. Either feeding method may be sufficient to feed your child with heart problems. However, you need to be a little flexible in the feeding method. Even if your child is breastfed or formula fed, he or she may need additional calories. This additional calorie need can be met by different methods.
Do not hesitate to ask questions to your doctor or dietitian to find out how best to feed your child. These people will explain you about various nutritional methods and how to increase the amount of calories in the food your child consumes.
Heart Medications and Nutrition
Some of the children with congenital heart disease is treated with medication. The medications used generally do not interact with the nutrients taken. The best method is to give the medicine before feeding the baby. Since your child may not always be able to finish the entire bottle, do not mix the medicine with the food. The medicine should be mixed with a small amount of water and given to the mouth with a dropper, syringe or spoon. If your baby vomits after giving medicine, do not try to give medicine again. When it is time for the next medication, give him the normal dose he always takes. If your child is sick, cannot eat enough, vomits during two or three daily feedings, or wets the bed less than normal, call your doctor.
It is very important to start the Mediterranean cuisine type of eating habit from childhood. A diet that is rich in green vegetables, fruits, rich in white meat and fish, olive oil is preferred, and carbohydrates are kept at a reasonable level will help your child have a healthy heart in adulthood.
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