VSD Closure Surgery Cost in India

  • VSD Closure Surgery cost in India ranges between USD 4900 to USD 5500.
  • The stay in hospital is for 8 days and 7 days outside the hospital.
  • Depending on the size of the hole in the wall, the success rate of ASD Closure Surgery is 98.5%.
  • Tests required before VSD Closure Surgery are Chest X-Ray, Blood Tests and Electrocardiogram.
VSD Closure Surgery Cost in India

Overview

A ventricular septal defect (VSD), a hole in the heart, is a common heart defect that’s present at birth (congenital). The hole (defect) occurs in the wall (septum) that separates the heart’s lower chambers (ventricles) and allows blood to pass from the left to the right side of the heart. The oxygen-rich blood then gets pumped back to the lungs instead of out to the body, causing the heart to work harder.

 

A small ventricular septal defect may cause no problems, and many small VSDs close on their own. Medium or larger VSDs may need surgical repair early in life to prevent complications.

Who Needs VSD Closure Surgery?

Treatment of a VSD depends on a child’s age, as well as the size, location, and severity of the hole.

 

It’s important to note that VSDs do not get bigger, but sometimes they will get smaller or close completely on their own without any treatment. For this reason, the doctor may not immediately recommend surgery, but will watch your child closely and treat any symptoms with medication.

 

In general, small VSDs usually don’t cause symptoms and are more likely to close on their own. Many small VSDs will do so before your child is 2 years old.

 

Medium and large VSDs often result in noticeable symptoms such as fast breathing, tiring easily, poor feeding, and failure to gain weight and grow properly. These signs typically indicate that the VSD will not close by itself. In this case, your doctor may recommend heart surgery to fix the hole. The purpose of this surgery is to ease symptoms caused by the VSD and prevent long-term damage to the heart and lungs.

 

While infants and children most often receive this type of operation, adults sometimes also need the surgery if their VSD was not diagnosed during childhood.

 

Be sure to speak with your doctor about what treatment is right for your child. If surgery is recommended, your doctor will refer you to a cardiothoracic surgeon.

Signs and symptoms of VSD Closure Surgery

Signs and symptoms of serious heart defects often appear during the first few days, weeks or months of a child’s life.

Ventricular septal defect (VSD) symptoms in a baby may include:

  • Poor eating, failure to thrive
  • Fast breathing or breathlessness
  • Easy tiring

You and your doctor may not notice signs of a ventricular septal defect at birth. If the defect is small, symptoms may not appear until later in childhood — if at all. Signs and symptoms vary depending on the size of the hole and other associated heart defects.

 

Your doctor may first suspect a heart defect during a regular checkup if he or she hears a murmur while listening to your baby’s heart with a stethoscope. Sometimes a VSD can be detected by ultrasound before the baby is born.

 

Sometimes a VSD isn’t detected until a person reaches adulthood. Symptoms and signs can include shortness of breath or a heart murmur your doctor hears when listening to your heart with a stethoscope.

Causes of VSD Repair Surgery

Congenital heart defects arise from problems early in the heart’s development, but there’s often no clear cause. Genetics and environmental factors may play a role. VSDs can occur alone or with other congenital heart defects.


During fetal development, a ventricular septal defect occurs when the muscular wall separating the heart into left and right sides (septum) fails to form fully between the lower chambers of the heart (ventricles).


Normally, the right side of the heart pumps blood to the lungs to get oxygen; the left side pumps the oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body. A VSD allows oxygenated blood to mix with deoxygenated blood, causing increased blood pressure and increased blood flow in the lung arteries. This results in increased work for the heart and lungs.


VSDs may be various sizes, and they can be present in several locations in the wall between the ventricles. There may be one or more VSD.


It’s also possible to acquire a VSD later in life, usually after a heart attack or as a complication following certain heart procedures.

Risks of ventricular septal defect surgery for a child?

Most children do well with VSD surgery. But complications do sometimes occur. Specific risk factors may vary based on age, the size of the defect, and other health problems. Possible risks include:

  • Excess bleeding
  • Infection
  • Blood clot, which can lead to stroke or other problems
  • Abnormal heart rhythm, which in rare cases can cause death
  • Heart block, which can make a pacemaker necessary
  • Complications from anesthesia

Late complications are also possible. But they are rare. These might include problems with the heart valves. Very rarely, the patch used to fix the defect might become loose. Then another surgery will be needed. Ask your child’s Medicare Spots about the specific risk factors for your child.

Diagnosis

Ventricular septal defects (VSDs) often cause a heart murmur that your doctor can hear using a stethoscope. If your doctor hears a heart murmur or finds other signs or symptoms of a heart defect, he or she may order several tests including:

  • Echocardiogram. In this test, sound waves produce a video image of the heart. Doctors may use this test to diagnose a ventricular septal defect and determine its size, location and severity. It may also be used to see if there are any other heart problems. Echocardiography can be used on a fetus (fetal echocardiography).

  • Electrocardiogram (ECG). This test records the electrical activity of the heart through electrodes attached to the skin and helps diagnose heart defects or rhythm problems.

  • Chest X-ray. An X-ray image helps the doctor view the heart and lungs to see if the heart is enlarged and if the lungs have extra fluid.

  • Cardiac catheterization. In this test, a thin, flexible tube (catheter) is inserted into a blood vessel at the groin or arm and guided through the blood vessels into the heart. Through cardiac catheterization, doctors can diagnose congenital heart defects and determine the function of the heart valves and chambers
    Pulse oximetry. A small clip on the fingertip measures the amount of oxygen in the blood.

Before the VSD surgery

Certain pre-operative tests will be conducted before the surgery. These tests will include:

  • Physical examination: The doctor will conduct some physical tests to determine whether you are fit to undergo the surgery or not

  • Blood tests: Blood tests will determine the normal functioning of the other organs. Also it will help the doctor know the blood group of the patient and whether blood transfusions will be required during surgery or not

  • Chest x-ray:The X-ray will reveal the condition, shape and size of the heart

  • Electrocardiogram: Electrocardiogram determines the rhythm of the heart beat
    Patients will be needed to take antibiotics before any other surgical procedure to reduce the risk of infection. 

Hours before the surgery the patient will be asked not to eat or drink anything, to bathe and shave any hair off from the area where surgery will be performed. Special dress will be provided to the patient by the medical staff to wear during the surgery.

Treatment

Many babies born with a small ventricular septal defect (VSD) won’t need surgery to close the hole. After birth, your doctor may want to observe your baby and treat symptoms while waiting to see if the defect closes on its own.


Babies who need surgical repair often have the procedure in their first year. Children and adults who have a medium or large ventricular septal defect or one that’s causing significant symptoms may need surgery to close the defect.


Some smaller ventricular septal defects are closed surgically to prevent complications related to their locations, such as damage to heart valves. Many people with small VSDs have productive lives with few related problems.


Babies who have large VSDs or who tire easily during feeding may need extra nutrition to help them grow. Some babies may require medication to help treat heart failure.


Medications

Medications for ventricular septal defect depend on the severity of heart failure symptoms. The goal of medication is to decrease the amount of fluid in circulation and in the lungs. Medications called diuretics, such as furosemide (Lasix), reduce how much blood must be pumped.

During VSD Procedures

Surgical treatment for ventricular septal defect involves plugging or patching the abnormal opening between the ventricles. If you or your child is having surgery to repair a ventricular defect, consider having surgery performed by surgeons and cardiologists with training and expertise in conducting these procedures.

 

Procedures to treat VSD may include:

  • Surgical repair. This procedure of choice in most cases usually involves open-heart surgery under general anesthesia. The surgery requires a heart-lung machine and an incision in the chest. The doctor uses a patch or stitches to close the hole.

  • Catheter procedure. Closing a ventricular septal defect during catheterization doesn’t require opening the chest. Rather, the doctor inserts a thin tube (catheter) into a blood vessel in the groin and guides it to the heart. The doctor then uses a specially sized mesh device to close the hole.

What happens after ventricular septal defect (VSD) surgery for a child?

Ask your child’s healthcare provider what will happen after the VSD surgery. In most cases, the surgery will permanently cure the VSD. No activity restrictions will be needed. After the procedure in the hospital, you can generally expect the following:

  • Your child may spend several hours in a recovery room. Or the surgery team may take him or her straight to the intensive care unit.

  • Medical staff will closely watch your child’s heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen levels, and breathing.

  • Your child will get pain medicine if needed.

  • Your child’s healthcare provider may order follow-up tests, like an electrocardiogram or an echocardiogram.

  • By the second day, your child should be up and moving around as much as possible.

  • Your child will probably be able to go home about a week after surgery.

At home after the VSD procedure:

Ask what medicines your child needs to take. Your child may temporarily need to take certain medicines after the surgery. Give pain medicines as needed.

Most children can get back to their normal activities when they get home. But they may tire more easily for a while. Children should avoid activities that might result in blows to the chest.

Your child may need to have stitches removed in a follow-up appointment. Be sure to keep all follow-up appointments.
Call your child’s healthcare provider if your child has increased swelling, increased bleeding or drainage, a fever, or severe symptoms. A little drainage from the site is normal.

Follow all the instructions your child’s healthcare provider gives you about medicine, exercise, diet, and wound care.

For a while after the procedure, your child might also need antibiotics before certain medical and dental procedures. They can help prevent an infection of the heart valves.

For a short time after the procedure, your child will need regular checkups by a cardiologist. After that, your child will need to see a cardiologist only now and then. After recovering from surgery, most children are able to lead normal lives without any activity restrictions.

Frequently Asked Questions about VSD Closure Surgery

Q: What other heart problems can occur with a VSD?

A. Other heart problems such as leaking or narrowing heart valves could be common in patients suffering from VSD. Another complex heart problem associated with VSD is tetralogy of Fallot.

Q. What causes a VSD to develop?

A. There is no exact reason as to why a VSD forms. Genes and environment certainly play a pivotal role. As we continue to learn more about the human DNA, we may come to a position to understand more about what causes ventricular septal defect (VSD).

 

Q. How do VSD develop?

A. In the womb the heart starts out as a single tube. As this tube loops, the two bottom tubes lie side-by-side and a wall (septum) develops to complete the division of the heart into left and right sides. The right side pumps blood to the lungs, and the left side pumps blood to the body. Sometimes this wall does not grow completely and a hole remains.

Q. Is VSD life threatening?

A. Ventricular septal defects (VSD) are generally considered to be non-life-threatening, usually closing by themselves or may cause symptoms such as congestive heart failure. Congestive heart failure can be treated surgically in time to save the patient’s life.

Q. How is a VSD diagnosed?

A. In most cases the ventricular septal defects are revealed after the birth of a child. By using a stethoscope the doctor can listen to the rumble of the blood as it goes through the hole. This is called a murmur. At times even if you place your hand on your chest, you will feel a rumbling. This is called a thrill. Some VSDs are not diagnosed until adulthood. Diagnosis of a VSD includes:

  • Chest X-ray
  • Electrocardiogram
  • Echocardiogram
  • Cardiac MRI

 

Q. What health problems are caused by a VSD?

A. VSD can lead to high blood pressure in lungs and eventually can result in cardiac failure, if not treated in time.

 

Q. What are the long-term outcomes for adults with unrepaired VSD?

A. Small VSD may never require any treatment. However, large VSDs might have the risk of developing other heart, lung, and blood problems.

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