Atrial fistula surgery: What you need to know

This is an automatically translated article.

Patients will be diagnosed with atrial fistula if there is a small hole or pit in the skin, usually in front of the upper earlobe (where the cartilage of the earlobe meets the face). If there is no infection, the patient will not have any unusual symptoms of the disease.

1. What is atrial fistula?

Atrial fibrillation usually only appears in newborns, this is one of the most common congenital diseases, when a child has a tiny hole in the earlobe, which is the condition of an abscess of the tympanic cavity. Atrial fistula is formed from the 6th week of pregnancy, the malformation will appear a small hole on the upper ear and deep into the cartilage of the baby.
Usually, the atrial fistula only appears in 1 or both ears, girls will have a higher incidence than boys, although very small, but the fistula can go deep into the inner cartilage.
In the world, the rate of children with atrial fistula is quite low (white people account for 1%, Asians up to 10%). If the disease occurs on its own, there is nothing to worry about, but if it is accompanied by other abnormalities, it will potentially make the disease more severe, the child will be at risk of having a malformation syndrome that manifests throughout the body. , typically the parotid-ear-renal slit syndrome.

2. Is atrial fistula dangerous?

Most parents don't know if atrial fibrillation is dangerous, how to treat it. According to specialists, atrial fibrillation is a fairly common birth defect and will not affect a child's development if it is cleaned daily.
However, if the child is not cleaned properly, the fistula will become infected, causing itching and secretion of a white discharge resembling pox, with a foul odor and enlarged to form a cyst. At this time, if not timely and properly treated, the fistula will swell, burst and cause aesthetic loss.
On the other hand, when the atrial fistula is infected, the child may have fever, inflammation, creating an abscess right at the fistula or spreading to other locations behind the ear. Therefore, regardless of whether or not atrial fibrillation is dangerous, parents still need to clean and properly clean their children so that they do not have to regret it later.

3. Common symptoms of atrial fistula

Children with atrial fibrillation usually do not have any abnormality except for a small hole in the skin where the upper ear is located. However, if it is not cleaned properly, it will cause some symptoms such as:
The mouth of the leaky tube leaks a white, foul-smelling fluid that causes an uncomfortable itching sensation for the baby. In severe cases, it can causing cyst enlargement, superinfection forming atrial fistula abscess.

4. Treatment methods for atrial fistula in children

After conducting an examination and performing tests to be able to accurately diagnose the condition of the child, the doctor will recommend a treatment plan. Usually, if a child shows signs of infection, the doctor will prescribe some antibiotics appropriate for the age and severity of the disease in the child. In the case of severe inflammation of the atrial fistula but the cyst has not been ruptured, it is possible to combine treatment with both antibiotics and surgical methods to remove the atrial fistula completely. atrial fistula, avoid the disease to recur many times.
Total atrial fistula resection is performed under general anesthesia and can last up to an hour. The doctor will choose the best time for surgery, after the infection and inflammation are gone, and the pits behind the external ear canal require two incisions to completely remove the canal.

5. How long do I need to stay in hospital for atrial fistula?

How long an atrial fistula requires a hospital stay is a concern of many parents. However, to answer this question, it still depends on many factors, of which the method of treatment is a prerequisite.
Many parents, when they see an infected fistula, think it's a boil, so they squeeze it with their hands and use antibiotics to treat it, this is extremely dangerous and can make the disease worse, making it difficult to treat. than.
The best way is to see a child with symptoms of atrial fistula abscess, then take the child to the hospital to be examined and treated by a specialist. Before treatment, the doctor will explain to the family about the method, the doctor is also the one who can answer questions such as how long it takes to heal or how long to stay in the hospital based on the actual situation of the patient. young.
In summary, atrial fibrillation is one of the existing congenital malformations and does not affect the health of the child if the infection is fully prevented, parents should pay attention to the cleanliness of the child. baby every day and absolutely do not squeeze into the child's fistula. When a child accidentally has an infection, pain, swelling or an abscess around, the child must be taken to the hospital to be treated by a specialist, but absolutely not treated at home.
As a key area of ​​Vinmec Health system, Pediatrics Department always brings satisfaction to customers and is highly appreciated by industry experts with:
Gathering a team of top doctors and nurses in Pediatrics : consists of leading experts with high professional qualifications (professors, associate professors, doctorates, masters), experienced, worked at major hospitals such as Bach Mai, 108.. Doctors All doctors are well-trained, professional, conscientious, knowledgeable about young psychology. In addition to domestic pediatric specialists, the Department of Pediatrics also has the participation of foreign experts (Japan, Singapore, Australia, USA) who are always pioneers in applying the latest and most effective treatment regimens. . Comprehensive services: In the field of Pediatrics, Vinmec provides a series of continuous medical examination and treatment services from Newborn to Pediatric and Vaccine,... according to international standards to help parents take care of their baby's health from birth to childhood. from birth to adulthood Specialized techniques: Vinmec has successfully deployed many specialized techniques to make the treatment of difficult diseases in Pediatrics more effective: neurosurgery - skull surgery, stem cell transplantation. blood in cancer treatment. Professional care: In addition to understanding children's psychology, Vinmec also pays special attention to the children's play space, helping them to have fun and get used to the hospital's environment, cooperate in treatment, improve the efficiency of medical treatment.

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