6 min readAug 14, 2023 12:51 PM IST
First published on: Aug 7, 2023 at 03:27 PM IST
Actor Bipasha Basu may have opened up about the struggle she faced when her three-month-old daughter had to undergo a heart surgery to close a biggish hole in the wall of the lower chambers of her heart but the condition is quite common among Indian children. “In fact, this is easily treatable compared to the many other congenital heart defects babies are born with. The good thing is that if diagnosed early, it can be treated with surgery, which is best done early in consultation with the paediatric cardiologist. It can even be done within the first few days of birth should the cardiologist clear the baby for the procedure. And the child can grow normal and be as healthy as any other kid. Only cardiac check-ups need to be done at intervals as advised. In fact, Ventricular Septal Defect or VSD (the kind that Basu’s baby was diagnosed with), is quite common. A small hole may cause no problems and close on its own. For larger ones, the sooner the surgery, the better it is,” says Dr Nishith Chandra, Principal Director, Interventional Cardiology, Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, Delhi.
WHAT IS CONGENITAL HEART DEFECT? WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN?
A congenital heart defect means there is a problem with the structure of the heart a child is born with. Some of these anomalies are simple and don’t need surgical intervention but the complex ones do. “In India, every ninth child per thousand births has such a defect and about two lakh children are born with congenital heart defects. Of this, one fifth require surgeries within the first year of their life. Of all babies born with congenital defects in all organs, 28 per cent are heart defects,” says Dr Chandra.
Congenital heart disease in kids (Designed by Abhishek Mitra)
WHAT IS VENTRICULAR SEPTAL DEFECT (VSD)?
During embryonic development in the uterus, the wall between the left and right ventricles is delicate and tears. “Now the right ventricle contains impure blood or deoxygenated blood and the left ventricle contains pure or oxygenated blood. These two kinds of blood mix inside the heart. These changes may increase blood pressure in the lungs, keep some of the impure blood in circulation, thereby exhausting the child, and requiring the heart to work harder to pump blood. A small VSD may cause no problems and closes on its own. Babies with medium or large VSDs may need surgery early in life to prevent complications,” adds he.
WHAT CAUSES CONGENITAL HEART DEFECTS?
Congenital heart defects can sometimes have a genetic component but they are often caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. “The foremost reason is less genetic dispersion or intrabreeding, which is common among the lower socio-economic strata where intracaste marriages are rampant. That’s why the number of children born with congenital heart defects is the highest among people in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Among the urban populace, the risk of congenital heart disease is higher because people are choosing to have their babies in the late 30s or early 40s through assisted reproductive technologies. Environmental factors mean the mother’s eating or drinking patterns may cause aberrations in the development stage of the foetus. Sometimes, it could be the medications the mother uses,” says Dr Chandra.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Sometimes, the child exhibits the signs rather early. For others, it takes a while for symptoms to show. Basu’s child was diagnosed on the third day. “There’s a shortness of breath and the baby gets tired or exhausted while feeding. Also, there is no weight gain. During a physical examination the doctor might hear a whooshing sound and then go ahead for confirmatory tests like an echocardiogram, which is an ultrasound of the heart and can show how big the hole in the heart is,” explains Dr Chandra. That’s why cardiologists request early interventions. “Many parents decide to wait because the cost of the procedure is between Rs 3 and Rs 4 lakhs but if left unattended, it can lead to an inoperable condition. Over time Eisenmenger syndrome can develop, when long-term damage to blood vessels and a reverse flow of oxygen-poor blood from the right ventricle to the left ventricle causes oxygen shortage in the body. In later years, you will then have to do a heart and lung transplant surgery,” says the cardiologist.
DO EXPECTANT PARENTS NEED TO WORRY?
While genetic testing can provide insights, it may not identify all potential issues. “That’s why gene testing is not recommended unless there is a family history of many children having been born with congenital defects. Instead, parents considering having a baby should focus on factors like prenatal care, a healthy lifestyle, and regular medical check-ups to ensure the best possible outcomes for their child’s heart health. Consulting a medical professional can provide personalised guidance based on their specific situation,” says Dr Chandra.
WHAT ARE OTHER KINDS OF CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE?
There is a whole spectrum and let’s say VSD is in the most manageable spectrum. “We have cyanotic congenital heart disease, where heart defects reduce the amount of oxygen delivered to the rest of your body significantly. The baby’s skin has a bluish tint and is called a blue baby. Acyanotic congenital heart disease — VSD is one — involves defects that don’t reduce oxygen as much in the initial stages,” says Dr Chandra.
Bipasha recently opened up about her daughter's health (Source: Bipasha Basu/Instagram) 
Congenital heart disease in kids (Designed by Abhishek Mitra)
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