Cutting congenital heart disease

[RAAZ]

KATHMANDU, June 8 - Experts say congenital heart disease (inborn malformation of the heart) can be prevented to a certain extent if parents-to-be take good care during pregnancy.
Dr Deewakar Sharma, cardiologist at Shahid Gangalal National Heart Center (SGNHC) said children born to a mother who drinks alcohol, smokes, uses drugs (medicines) and toxins during pregnancy are at higher risk of the disease.

"Chances of congenital heat diseases are also high among children born to a mother above the age of 40," Dr Sharma said.

He said those who have infections like rubella during pregnancy also have a higher chance of giving birth to such children.

Dr Sharma said there has not been any study on the longevity of children with such a problem.

He said children with such problems may die before birth or soon after birth. "However, parental awareness can minimize congenital heart disease," he added.

Common congenital heart disease among children costs some Rs 30,000 to Rs 150,000 for surgery. "But surgery may not completely cure the disease," he said.

The government has been providing free surgery to children (underprivileged) below the age of 15 through Children Assistance Program.

According to the hospital's 2006 annual report, 37 percent of 13,962 surgeries carried out by the hospital were congenital heart surgery, which is the highest among all heart surgeries in the hospital. In 2004, congenital heart disease comprised four percent of the total types of heart disease, while the same in 2006 was 5.37 percent, according to hospital statistics.

Considering the volume of patients with congenital heart disease, the hospital has recently started fetal echocardiography, which can detect the fetus' heart status. "With this facility, the couple will have knowledge if their fetus has such a problem. This will help them decide whether they want to give birth to a child with such serious heart complications," said Dr Sharma.

He said detection is possible after 18 weeks of pregnancy and that it costs Rs 800. One percent of total live births has this problem.

[de.malady]

i still feel that 37 percent of 13,962 surgeries which unfortunately is a congenital heart surgery is not a range to make us happy even if the title of this article says Cutting congenital heart disease; thanks to the foetal cardiography that the hospital recently introduced; lets hope it will help parents take wise decision in case of foetal heart abnormality in womb per se..

[zal]

it is so pittiful that congenital heart disease is most prevalent heart disease which is mostly preventable...
sahid gangalal hos. has done a great job !
thr is need for easily assessible facility for the coupels to detect abt the conditin of the fetus and to raise the awarenes among them particularly abt abuse of alcohol