Modern diagnostic methods allow you to learn about the development of pathologies at an early stage. Sometimes, after the next visit to the hospital, the doctor informs the parents about the child's oval open window, this plunges them into a state of panic and anxiety. How dangerous it is and what can be done for treatment, we will analyze in the article.
What is an open oval window?
By this definition is meant the presence of a hole between the right and left atria of the heart. This is not always a pathological condition. An open oval window in the ICD-10 is designated as an atrial septal defect (Q 21.1). During the prenatal period, due to this feature, the child is saturated with oxygen, as well as normal blood circulation between him and his mother. This is due to the fact that the lungs do not yet perform respiratory function during fetal development. The open oval window in newborns closes almost immediately after birth or after a certain period of time. In most cases, by the first year of life, the hole is overgrown with connective and muscle tissue. If this does not happen by two years, we can talk about the presence of a small abnormality of the heart. When diagnosing a pathology of five or more years, we can confidently say that this feature will remain forever.
An open oval window in the heart is not a vice, but requires the supervision of a cardiologist.
Pathology classification
The classification of this pathology of the heart is related to its size.
- Small window - measures 2-3 mm. In this case, they talk about the normal development of the heart, and the hole is likely to grow without any problems and deviations.
- Medium - window size from 4–7 mm. If a size greater than 7 mm is diagnosed, the diagnosis is a "gaping oval window." It is treated promptly.
- Large - the size is about 20 mm. Full non-closure.
Causes
To date, the causes of pathology are not fully understood. There are only suggestions of what could have contributed to it.
The most obvious reasons include:
- heredity;
- poor environmental conditions during pregnancy and stress;
- abuse of alcohol and tobacco of the mother during the bearing of the baby;
- taking prohibited during pregnancy drugs;
- congenital heart defects;
- connective tissue dysplasia;
- prematurity.
It happens that the oval window opens under the influence of physical activity. The risk group includes people engaged in heavy physical labor, athletes and scuba divers, people with thrombophlebitis.
An open oval window in the heart of an adult is observed against the background of its incomplete closure in childhood. The reasons for this are still unknown.
Symptoms
There is no clear symptomatology of not closing the oval window. There are only certain signs by which the doctor can make a preliminary diagnosis. But, as a rule, this pathology, especially in adults, is detected by chance.
The alleged symptoms of an open oval window in the heart of a child include:
- blueness in the area of the lips or nose, which occurs with any load - crying, screaming;
- pallor of the skin around the mouth;
- slow weight gain;
- fast fatiguability;
- frequent diseases of the lungs and bronchi.
In older children and adults, the following symptoms are observed:
- dyspnea;
- rapid pulse;
- severe headaches;
- frequent illnesses;
- dizziness and fainting;
- heart murmurs.
If you have a large open oval window, symptoms such as:
- severe weakness and fatigue;
- very frequent fainting;
- blue skin even at rest;
- the child begins to lag behind in physical development.
Diagnostics
It is not possible to diagnose pathology during a routine examination. To do this, with any suspicion of a disease, a series of tests are performed that will help not only confirm the diagnosis, but also find out the degree and severity of the development of the pathology.
Diagnostic methods include:
- Laboratory tests of blood and urine.
- The ECG is normal and with a load.
- Echocardiography with Doppler and contrast agent. With this procedure, holes and defects in the cardiac septum are effectively detected.
- Very rarely transesophageal echocardiography is prescribed , in which you can see the exact size and location of the window. Also, various complications (aneurysms, blood clots) become visible on the procedure.
- Roentgenography.
- Sometimes MRI and CT may be required.
Treatment
With an open oval window in newborns, do not worry and look for treatment. As a rule, the hole closes and overgrows in a short time. And often this happens unexpectedly and quickly.
If the window has dimensions up to 7 mm, then a doctor’s control is required with systematic passage of tests.
If the oval window is larger than 7 mm, surgery may be required. Surgery involves guiding a catheter into a blood vessel, which closes the window. After the operation, antibiotics are prescribed. It is also necessary to take anticoagulants that will prevent the formation of blood clots.
Children should not be limited in physical activity if the attending physician has given permission for this. But you should refrain from the loads that are associated with diving to depth or straining.
You need to eat right. If pathological processes occur in the body - viral and bacterial diseases - they should not be allowed to drift, as infections can lead to complications.
Sometimes, with violations of the cardiovascular system and for the prevention of thrombosis, medication is prescribed.
1. Anticoagulants. The drug "Warfarin" is widely used.
2. Reception of "Aspirin". This drug has proven effective in the treatment of thrombosis and venous insufficiency.
Diet with an open oval window of the heart. With this disease, a special diet is recommended, rich in magnesium and potassium, which are very useful for the heart muscle. Smoked foods should be excluded from the diet and salt intake should be limited. Replace fatty meat broths with vegetarian ones, and tea and coffee with herbal decoctions and freshly squeezed juices. Onions and garlic are also not welcome.
Complications
It happens that with an open oval window in a child or adult, blood clots are observed, which, in turn, can provoke the following diseases:
- stroke leading to brain damage;
- heart attack;
- cerebrovascular accident;
- kidney infarction, in which the death of organ tissues occurs.
If there is a violation of blood circulation in the work of many organs and body systems, malfunctions may appear.
Prevention
The main prevention of the appearance of an open oval window in the heart of a child will be appropriate during pregnancy.
- Proper nutrition with a significant limitation of the consumption of smoked, spicy, fried.
- Possible sources of exposure should be avoided.
- The expectant mother should carefully monitor her health, avoiding infection with infectious diseases.
- Eliminate all bad habits.
- Do not take medications that are prohibited during pregnancy.
- Avoid contact with chemicals.
If nevertheless the diagnosis has been established, then prevention will be aimed at eliminating complications.
- First of all, you need to register with a cardiologist and systematically undergo all the necessary examinations.
- You can not engage in heavy sports, running, jumping, diving.
- A properly organized daily routine is needed.
- If possible, relieve the child of stress and anxiety.
- Lead a healthy, active lifestyle, often walk in the fresh air.
- It is very important to drink plenty of water.
Conclusion
An open oval window in the heart of an adult or child does not always lead to pathological conditions of the body. In young children, it requires only the supervision of a doctor, since after a while it is able to overgrow. If this does not happen, thanks to preventive measures and the implementation of the recommendations of the attending physician, the development of pathology can be controlled.
It is very important to remember that basic prevention should be carried out at the stage of pregnancy, because it is then that all the organs and systems of the baby are laid.
An increase in the number of identifications of this defect is associated with modern diagnostic methods. Many doctors do not consider an open oval window a serious pathology. Such a diagnosis does not prevent many successful athletes from reaching professional heights. The main thing is to have constant medical supervision and the absence of other serious diseases.