Congenital and Structural Heart Center

Have your child checked if a doctor hears a heart murmur, or if your child breathes fast, sweats and tires easily while feeding or playing, gains weight slowly, has frequent chest infections, or has bluish lips and nails. Worsening blueness, severe breathlessness, or a child who looks limp needs emergency care right away. A heart check after birth is also advised if a defect was already suspected on a pregnancy ultrasound.

The doctor will ask about symptoms, the pregnancy and birth history for children, and family health history. After a physical examination and an oxygen level check, the main test is usually an echocardiogram to see the position and size of the defect. If needed, the doctor may recommend an ECG, chest X-ray, cardiac CT scan, or cardiac catheterization to measure lung pressures before deciding on treatment.

Bring previous test results such as echocardiograms, ECGs, chest X-rays, or surgery reports, along with image recordings if available. For children, also bring the maternal and child health (KIA) book that records weight and immunizations. Prepare a list of current medicines and write down the questions you want to ask so nothing is missed during the consultation.

Not all. Some small holes, especially in babies, can close on their own as the child grows and only need monitoring. Closure is considered when a hole is large enough to strain the heart or lungs, or when it causes symptoms. When the anatomy allows, closure can be done with an occluder device by catheter, and otherwise with surgery. The decision is made after complete tests and a discussion with the family.

The hospital stay after catheter closure is usually short, and light activity can resume within a few days as advised by the doctor. Recovery after corrective surgery takes longer because the wound needs to heal and the patient is first monitored in intensive care. In both cases, follow-up echocardiograms are scheduled, and the doctor will explain when a child can return to school or sports.

Yes. Some defects, such as atrial septal defect or patent foramen ovale, often cause no symptoms in childhood and are found only in adulthood, for example because of breathlessness, palpitations, or a stroke. Adults who had heart surgery as children also need regular check-ups. The assessment follows the same steps as for children: mapping the defect, then deciding whether to monitor it, close it by catheter, or repair it surgically.