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[Growth in 60 children with surgically repaired interventricular communication]
Anales Espanoles De Pediatria
|November 1, 1982
Summary
Surgical repair of ventricular septal defect significantly improves weight gain in children. Early infant surgery offers the best chance for near-normal final height, especially for severe cases.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Surgical Outcomes
Context:
- Ventricular septal defect (VSD) is a common congenital heart defect.
- Subnormal growth is often observed in children with VSD pre-surgery.
- Growth patterns can be influenced by defect severity and patient age.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the impact of surgical repair on the growth status of children with VSD.
- To determine if early surgical intervention improves long-term growth outcomes.
- To identify factors influencing growth post-VSD repair.
Summary:
- Sixty children with repaired VSD (average 3.5-year follow-up) were studied, excluding low birth weight and chromosomal anomalies.
- Pre-surgery, height and weight were subnormal, correlating with defect severity.
- Surgical repair led to significant weight gain across all groups.
- Youngest patients achieved near-normal final height, while those repaired after age 2 showed limited height improvement.
- 10% of patients did not show improved growth patterns post-surgery.
Impact:
- Early surgical repair of large and severe VSD in infancy provides the optimal conditions for improved growth.
- Timely intervention is crucial for mitigating long-term growth deficits in pediatric cardiac patients.
- Understanding growth trajectories post-VSD repair informs clinical management and parental expectations.