Procedure Description:

Glenn Procedure

A Glenn treatment is a heart surgery for kids born with a condition that prevents normal blood flow through their hearts. It relieves their one completely working ventricle and increases the amount of oxygen in their circulation. The Glenn operation is frequently part of a series of surgeries for neonates born with heart circulation issues.

Disease Overview:

Structural heart disease is a wide phrase that refers to any problem with your heart's structure. It denotes a problem with the structure or function of your heart's valves, walls, chambers, or muscles. Structured cardiac disease can be congenital (present at birth) or evolve over time. If left untreated, structural heart disease might lead to other health issues.

The following are the most common kinds of structural heart disease:

- A issue with any of the four valves that open and close to govern blood flow is known as heart valve disease.

- Cardiomyopathy is a condition that affects the heart muscle.

- Congenital heart disease refers to structural cardiac defects that are present at birth.

Anyone, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or color, can develop structural heart disease. It may be more frequent in those with a family history of structural heart disease, depending on the condition. It's also possible that it's more likely in children whose biological parents had:

- Pregnancy and exposure to industrial chemicals

- Rubella can be contracted during the first trimester of pregnancy.

- During pregnancy, you took certain drugs or drank alcohol.

- During pregnancy, there is a risk of viral infections.

As you become older, your chances of developing structural heart disease rise. Structured heart disease affects more than 10% of persons over the age of 75.

Disease Signs and Symptoms:

You can have structural heart disease without any symptoms or indicators. Symptoms that appear as the illness advances include:

- Pain, tightness, or pressure in the chest.

- Lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting (syncope).

- Fatigue.

- Blood pressure that is too high (hypertension).

- Heartbeats that aren't regular (arrhythmia).

- Kidney disease is a condition that affects the kidneys.

- Breathing problems (dyspnea).

- Abdominal, ankle, or foot swelling (edema).

Disease Causes:

Structural heart disease can be inherited. Due to abnormalities with your body's DNA or genetics, your heart may grow improperly.

Structural heart illness can also occur later in life as a result of the following factors:

1- Calcium deposits on your heart valves can be caused by ageing.

2- Addiction to alcohol or drugs.

3- Aneurysm of the aorta.

4- Lupus and rheumatic fever are examples of autoimmune diseases.

5- Heart attack or cardiovascular illness (myocardial infarction).

6- Heart diseases such as amyloidosis, hemochromatosis, and sarcoidosis are examples.

7- Endocarditis: Diabetes and thyroid illness are examples of endocrine disorders.

8- Blood pressure that is too high (hypertension).

9- Radiation exposure at a high dosage.

10- Marfan syndrome is a condition that affects people of all ages

11- Muscle diseases like muscular dystrophy.

Atherosclerosis (plaque accumulation) is a condition in which plaque accumulates in the (atherosclerosis).

Disease Diagnosis:

A foetal echocardiography may be used by your healthcare professional to diagnose structural heart problems during pregnancy. They can do this after or before the baby is born. Sound waves are used to create an image of the baby's heart in this imaging procedure.

When your physician listens to your heart with a stethoscope, they may detect a heart murmur in children and adults. Your provider will send you to a cardiologist if they feel you have structural heart problems. The cardiologist will do tests such as:

- Cardiac catheterization: Your cardiologist inserts a tiny tube into an artery in your groyne during this procedure. After that, they sew it to your heart. The pressures within your heart chambers are measured by the cardiologist. They may also examine photos of your heart and blood arteries up close.

- Coronary angiogram: Your cardiologist will do angiography using cardiac catheterization. They use a catheter to inject dye into your blood vessels. An X-ray is used by your cardiologist to examine blood flow via your heart, arteries, and valves.

- An echocardiogram (also known as an echo) is a procedure that employs sound waves to make pictures of your heart's chambers and valves. This test evaluates the pumping function of your heart.

- An electrocardiogram (also known as an ECG or EKG) is a test that monitors the electrical activity of the heart.

- Exercise stress test: You walk or run on a treadmill during an exercise stress test. Your provider will keep an eye on your heart as you workout.

- A Holter monitor captures the electrical activity of your heart for 24 to 48 hours as you go about your everyday activities.

- A chest X-ray, CT scan, or cardiac MRI are imaging examinations that take photos within your chest to search for structural issues.

The most frequent tests for structural heart disease are an ECG and an echocardiography.

Disease Treatment:

There are several forms of structural heart disease that may not require therapy. However, your condition will need to be monitored by a provider for the rest of your life.

Other forms of structural heart disease may be treated with:

- Medications.

- Minimally invasive cardiac operations repair or replace a damaged valve with only a few minor incisions.

- A surgeon opens your chest wall to have access to your heart for valve replacements or a heart transplant.