Paediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery
The Practice of Pediatric Cardiology requires a combination of advanced infrastructure and the skill-sets of highly trained professionals. At SRI RAMAKRISHNA HOSPITAL seamless integration of the care given by a Dedicated team of Pediatric Cardiologist who are considered some of the best pediatric heart surgeons in coimbatore, Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Anethesiologists, Critical care specialists, Perfusionist & Nurses ensures good outcome and speedy recovery to the patients.
SRH Pediatric Cardiac Care is one of the best hospitals for pediatric heart surgery that offers state of the art and management for patients across all age groups-newborns, infants, children and Grown Up patients with structural anomalies of the heart.
In association with Rotary Club Saicity, Coimbatore more than 800 Free Cardiac Interventions in children have been done at Sri Ramakrishna Hospital for needy and eligible children.
Regular Outpatient Clinics:
Monday to Saturday – 8.30 AM – 5.00 PM
All patients undergo a comprehensive evaluation and every effort is made to complete the evaluation process including all non-invasive tests Following which Procedures (surgical or catheter interventions) are scheduled on the same day.
Specialty Clinics:
Fetal Cardiac Services – Provides comprehensive diagnosis and counseling besides inutero treatment for arrhythmias.
Paediatric Lifestyle Clinic – The clinic addresses lifestyle-related diseases such as childhood obesity and hypertension. The clinic functions all weekdays.
Grown-up Congenital Heart Disease (GUCH) clinic This provides follow-up of children with corrected CHDs into adult life as well as evaluation and treatment of adults with CHDs (like atrial septal defects).
Pulmonary Hypertension Clinic
Medical Conditions
Treatments & Procedures
Frequently Asked Questions
How can heart defects be detected in children?DEPENDS ON AGE
Some complex, severe defects are obvious right from birth or within a few days of birth. Usually, these conditions present with bluish discoloration of the skin (cyanosis) and poor circulation. If you find these features in a newborn baby make sure you take them to the hospital IMMEDIATELY.
Less severe conditions may be detected later in life either due to
1. FAST BREATHING
2. feeding difficulties or
3. As an incidental finding of a murmur (unusual noise from the heart) which is picked up by the family CHILDREN doctor
4. Heart defects cause feeding problems in small babies and the typical pattern is that they cannot feed very long so they take small feeds frequently and are constantly hungry.
5. They can also become very sweaty during feeds or when crying.
6. Babies with heart problems are also more prone to getting chest infections or pneumonia which may sometimes need admission to hospital.
Older children can present with
1. chest discomfort/pain and
2. palpitations (awareness of abnormal heart beating).
Palpitations may be the sign of electrical disturbances in the heart and these can be easily treated nowadays. So thorough investigation is required.
Many heart defects are minor and require no treatment at all. They may only need regular monitoring.
Some heart defects require only oral medications.
Some holes in the heart (atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus) and blocked valves (pulmonary or aortic stenosis) can be treated without an open heart procedure using key-hole techniques.
More complex heart problems may require surgery.
Key-hole procedures involve a technique called cardiac catheterization where a small tube is inserted into the blood vessel at the top of the leg.
This is then used to direct catheters (tubes) into the various chambers of the heart. Sometimes these procedures are used to diagnose a problem (diagnostic catheterization) and at other times to treat the problem (interventional catheterization).
Holes in the heart can be closed without surgery using an umbrella device. This device is placed across the hole and the two discs of the device open on either side of the hole sealing it completely.
The device gradually becomes part of the heart and the heart forms a lining or skin over the device. Device closure is a permanent treatment and the hole remains sealed even when the child’s heart grows.
Simple lesions like holes in the heart have an excellent long-term outcome and these children grow to be normal adults and can expect a normal life expectancy with a normal quality of life.
If they have a good result they can even participate in competitive level sport. With more complex heart defects long-term survival remains good with the majority living into their 30s and 40s.
Overall these children have a relatively normal life, going to school, participating in play activities, pursuing careers, etc. The majority of women who have had a good result with treatment tolerate pregnancy well although they need closer monitoring and care during pregnancy than the normal population.
