Any body have info on baby's born with a hole in their heart?

my new niece, born onThursday, was just diagnosed with this. They say she could grow out of it or that she will need surgery. Does anyone have any experiience with this?

Message edited 7/25/2009 11:32:57 AM.

Re: Any body have info on baby's born with a hole in their heart?

My niece was born with this (ASD). She did need several surgeries, and every year she has to get an angio. But she's healthy and happy.

Re: Any body have info on baby's born with a hole in their heart?

My son was born with a murmur. It actually wasn't heard until his 1 month visit. It is a pinhole sized murmur and should close within a year. He is almost 8 months and it hasn't closed thus far. We go back in Jan. for an EKG and Echo and then will discuss options.

Re: Any body have info on baby's born with a hole in their heart?

My adopted sister had this. She wound up needing the surgery-the hole in her heart was on the larger size. She had open heart surgery when she was 6. She is 13 and she is doing great! She is very active and athletic and she has no side effects! Many of these holes close on their own as well! Good luck and prayers for your niece!

Re: Any body have info on baby's born with a hole in their heart?

My dad was born with multiple holes in his heart. He had open heart surgery to repair it back in 1975. I am sure the surgeries are MUCH more advanced by now.

Re: Any body have info on baby's born with a hole in their heart?

Ariel has an Atrial Septal Defect which is a hole between the upper 2 chambers of her heart...

Fortunitely for us it has never needed surgery to repair it. (There is no blood flow through the hole)..

Several congenital heart defects can and do repair themselves....

Additionally, should surgery be needed, a lot of these arent open heart surgeries either...

Do you know any of the specifics?

Im going to assume that when she was born the ped noticed a slight murmur and ordered an echocardiogram, at which point the defect was found. It's really a lot more common than you would think...

Re: Any body have info on baby's born with a hole in their heart?

My Best friends niece was born with two holes in her heart. She did have surgery around 4-5 yrs old for it, she is absolutly fine and there were never any worries about it either.

Re: Any body have info on baby's born with a hole in their heart?

I was born with one (VSD) and mine closed by the time I was 4. No interventions needed!

Re: Any body have info on baby's born with a hole in their heart?

My nephew was born with a heart murmur. So far none of his tests have shown the hole to close. But they do believe it is not severe enough to require surgery and he should still be able to play any sport he wants.

My BIL was also born with a similar defect but unfortunately, much more severe. Not only does he have a hole in his heart there is also a back flow of blood. So, he gets monitored yearly and although he is almost 21 surgery is pretty much inevitable at some point. He was not allowed to play hard contact sports and has been on high blood pressure medication since he was 12. But, looking at him you'd never know there was something wrong.

Re: Any body have info on baby's born with a hole in their heart?

DD#1 was born with a VSD and an ASD, she is 8 years old, no surgery and she is fine!

Re: Any body have info on baby's born with a hole in their heart?

My niece had this and required surgery when she was 2 and she is more than fine. Yes, it was super scary to go through that, but the doctors reassured everyone that it's such a common surgery these days, they are more than prepared for it.

I'm sorry your family has to worry about this...I know it's not easy.