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My Baby’s Heart Condition
My Baby’s Heart ConditionNarratorOccasionally, babies who come to the NICU have a congenital heart problems or other conditions. Some heartissues are treated by medicine while others might require surgery. Your NICU doctors are there to help youunderstand the nature of these heart conditions.Valencia Walker, MDOne of the most common things they'll have is something we call a PDA or patent ductus arteriosus. And withthat there's a connection that is open before a baby is born between two of the major blood vessels, and thatconnection should close after birth. In premature babies that connection sometimes doesn't close and it leadsto a lot of problems with their lungs and with their heart. And so we can do medicine sometimes and help itclose or occasionally we'll need to do surgery so that we can close it so the babies can continue to grow anddevelop normally.Mark Sklansky, MDSurgery for PDA is very, very straightforward with a very, very low complication rate. Now what I like to tellparents is that surgery for a PDA does not involve opening the heart, does not involve going on a bypass. It's avery quick, straightforward procedure with very low risk.NarratorBeyond PDA, there are other heart issues that will need attention.Sue Hall, MD, NeonatologistThe other category of heart problems is babies who are born with congenital heart defects, where there issomething structurally wrong or incomplete with the heart, and those babies often go on to require surgery.ParentsOur baby has congenital heart defects. So she's had heart surgery. It was very scary, and knowing that it wasgoing to come out okay, it's still, it's hard.NarratorFinally, if it’s discovered that your baby has a heart problem, they may need to be transferred to anotherhospital with higher level NICU for specialized care.Mark Sklansky, MDMany of the procedures of some babies with congenital heart disease required early on after delivery are onlyoffered at certain hospitals around the country with neonatal intensive care units equipped with the properpersonnel and equipment to provide those sorts of treatments.Lashinique Parker, MotherWhen I found out my baby had a heart condition I was just so terrified and she had to get transported to LomaLinda. And it was just the scariest feeling. I just felt helpless at the time because I couldn’t do anything for her.But I'm so glad she came, and she overcame it, the one big obstacle.This program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness,or suitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.NICU00017A EN MyBabysHeartCondition.pdf© The Wellness NetworkPage 1 of 1
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Heart & Vascular Center
Watch this video to learn the important role you play while your child is in the NICU
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An introduction to life in the neonatal intensive care unit, or NICU. Learn how you and NICU staff work together to give your baby the very best care.
