Angiography for 4 Year Old Child


In order to imagine and assess the severity and the course of the heart disease and tailor the most accurate treatment plan, Near East University Hospital pediatric cardiologists Professor Canan Aybakan, Associate Professor Selma Vefa Yıldırım, Asst. Prof. Dr. Zeynep Cerit along with the angiography team carried out an angiography procedure for 4 year old child suffering from congenital heart disease.

The patient's findings were assessed by the council of pediatric cardiologists and cardiovascular surgeons. Considering the valve insufficiency, the council concluded for regular cardiologic follow up instead of surgery. Underlining that angiography and cardiac catheterization are invasive procedures that generally performed in adults, pediatric cardiologist Professor Canan Aybakan stated that these procedures might be necessary and useful for the assessment and treatment of heart diseases in children, mainly in children with congenital atrioventricular septal defect and valve insufficiency.

Delivering information about the history of the 4 year old patient, Professor Canan Ayabakan stated that the child's physician heard a heart murmur during the physical examination a short time after her birth and referred the child to a pediatric cardiologist who specialized in the diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart defects and heart problems. After a cardiac ultrasound (echocardiography test), the child was diagnosed with partial atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD) and mitral insufficiency. "As the baby's heart develops during the pregnancy, it partitions, creating a wall (septum) dividing the two sides of the heart. Atrioventricular septal defect occurs when this partitioning process does not complete, thus leaving a hole between the chambers of the heart and problems with the valves that regulate blood flow in the heart. So AVSD is a combination of heart problems resulting in a defect in the center of the heart “said she.

Stating that the child, who was brought to Near East University by her parents for control, had not any significant cardiologic complaints such as tiring easily when playing, bluish discoloration of the lips and skin (cyanosis), poor growth and frequent respiratory infections, Professor Canan Aybakan noted that the council of pediatric cardiologist and cardiovascular surgeons assessed the child patient's condition and concluded for regular cardiologic follow up to tailor the most appropriate treatment plan.


Prof. Dr. Canan Aybakan: "Angiography can be applied to children of all ages, even newborns"
Underlining that cardiac catheterization is applied as a complementary procedure when echocardiography does not provide sufficient information and/or when surgical intervention is considered for the patient; Professor Canan Ayabakan stated that angiography could be applied to children of all ages, even newborns. "Since these procedures are useful to evaluate the severity of heart problems, Near East University pediatric cardiologists applied angiography to the 4 year old child with atrioventricular septal defect" said she.

Professor Canan Aybakan delivered information about congenital heart diseases: "Holes in the heart are congenital heart defects and they are very diverse. Some small holes in the heart can close on their own. Some may not need a surgery for lifetime as they are very tiny. Angiography is the gold standard to assess the patient's condition and decide whether a surgery is needed or not. Angiography allows measuring the pressure in the chambers of the heart and in the blood vessels as well as the blood flow. The results of these measurements show whether a surgery is needed. The angiogram measurement results of the 4 year old child were assessed by the council of pediatric cardiologists and cardiovascular surgeons at work at Near East University Hospital. The council concluded that there was no need for a surgery as the findings were low.

What is congenital heart disease?
A congenital heart disease (CHD), also known as congenital heart defect, is a problem in the structure of the heart that is present at birth. Prenatal development of the heart is completed in the first three months of the pregnancy. The heart begins as a hollow tube. As the heart develops, it partitions, creating a wall (septum) dividing the two sides of the heart. During this partition process, some problems may prevent the development of the heart. When this partitioning process does not complete, it results in a hole between the chambers of the heart and problems with the valves that regulate blood flow. Sometimes more complex disorders can be seen in the formation of heart chambers and in vascular connections.

What is Atrioventricular Septal Defect?
Atrioventricular Septal Defect (AVSD) is a congenital heart defect that arises from faulty development of the embryonic endocardial cushions. It is characterized by hole(s) between chambers of heart as well as insufficiency in valves that regulate the blood flow.

Figure 1: AVSD Types

  1. Normal Heart
  2. Partial AVSD (the heart defect that the 4 year old child suffers from)
  3. Complete AVSD