Many patients and friends ask if congenital heart disease is curable. They have no confidence in the treatment and give up on themselves. The experts introduced, “Is congenital heart disease curable?” The key also lies in the timing of surgery. The best time to operate for congenital heart disease needs to be judged with the specific condition. Is congenital heart disease curable? The experts say that, generally speaking, children with congenital heart disease that is relatively mild, has little impact on growth and development, and does not progress significantly within a short period of time may not be rushed into surgery. For example, if a small septal defect can close on its own in about 20% of cases, there is no need to rush to surgery, but if it does not close by school age, surgery is needed. In contrast, there are some congenital heart diseases that require early surgery, otherwise the treatment will be delayed. Which congenital heart disease should be operated early? 1, large ventricular septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus and primary atrial septal defect: such congenital heart disease is well treated? Experts say that these children have severe symptoms such as frequent respiratory infections, pneumonia, heart failure, and not easily controlled by medication, as well as pulmonary hypertension can occur at an early age due to the large intracardiac left ventricular to right ventricular shunt flow. These patients should be operated before two years of age, and some even need surgery in infancy, otherwise severe pulmonary hypertension will occur and affect the surgical effect or delay the timing of surgical treatment, and also affect the growth and development of the child. 2. Perpetual arterial trunk and single ventricle: perpetual arterial trunk means that there is no direct connection to the pulmonary artery and the pulmonary artery originates from a part of the aorta. If there is no pulmonary artery stenosis, the aortic blood enters the pulmonary artery directly and pulmonary hypertension forms early; if combined with pulmonary artery stenosis, the child has severe cyanosis. Single ventricle refers to one ventricle receiving blood from two atria at the same time. It is also divided into two conditions: normal pulmonary artery and pulmonary artery stenosis, and its clinical manifestation is similar to that of permanent arterial trunk. Therefore, these children should undergo palliative surgery at an early age and radical surgery when they are 5 to 6 years old. 3, Farrer’s tetralogy and pulmonary valve occlusion: are these two types of congenital heart disease treatable? Experts point out that both prevent venous blood from entering the pulmonary circulation for oxygenation, and only a small amount of blood enters the pulmonary circulation for oxygenation through the ventricular septal defect or arterial duct, and the child has cyanosis soon after birth, and the cyanosis worsens when feeding and crying. Without early surgery, about 2/3 of children die within
1 year of age. Therefore, these patients should undergo palliative surgery at an early age and then radical surgery when they are older. Is congenital heart disease curable? In conclusion, there are many types of congenital heart disease and the timing of treatment varies, some can wait for the best time and some should be treated by surgery immediately after birth.