Detection and treatment of dilated cardiomyopathy in children

Dilated cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle, characterized by dilation of the cardiac chambers and reduced contractility of the left and/or right ventricular muscles, increased systolic and diastolic volumes, and abnormal ventricular myocardium. thinning can lead to heart failure and death. The disease can occur at any age including children.

Dilated cardiomyopathy is one of the common diseases of the heart muscle, usually seen in young people and middle-aged people, mainly between the ages of 20 and 50 years old. Sometimes the disease can occur in children as well.
The cause of myocardial dilation is still not clear. However, it has been found that the risk factors that can cause the disease in children such as:
Aortic occlusion (common in neonates and infants). Abnormalities in the left coronary artery originating in the aorta (common in children 2 to 5 months of age). Myocardial infarction in children Children with other heart problems such as arrhythmias, coronary artery blockages... often have metabolic disorders. Genetic factors. Dilated cardiomyopathy is characterized by weakening of the heart muscle fibers, which reduces the ability of the heart muscle to contract, resulting in an inadequate blood supply to the body.

In the early stages of the disease, there are often no obvious cardiovascular symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain. As the disease progresses, the following symptoms can be seen:
Children have chest pain, frequent shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing at night: In dilated cardiomyopathy, initially, the heart muscle is weakened leading to a decrease in heart rate. stroke volume. This can be compensated by a mechanism to increase the heart rate to ensure cardiac output. Therefore, when cardiac output does not increase with exercise, the patient feels short of breath. In the later stages, when there is too much compensatory activity, the heart muscle is severely weakened, at risk of heart failure. At this point, both cardiac output and stroke volume decrease, ventricular systolic and diastolic volumes increase, and blood oxygen saturation decreases. As a result, the difference in oxygen concentration between arteries and veins increases, the body increases catecholamine secretion, the renin - angiotensin - aldosterone system is activated leading to a sharp decrease in cardiac output. The child has more difficulty breathing even at rest. A profuse, persistent cough may be accompanied by a headache. Anorexia, fatigue, loss of appetite, young children may show signs of breastfeeding, fussiness. Swollen feet and ankles. Rapid or irregular pulse, palpitations. Your child is urinating less than usual. On examination, crackles in the lungs, heart murmur, and palpable hepatomegaly may be heard. In some cases, there may be distended neck veins. Dilated cardiomyopathy in children sometimes cannot be clearly diagnosed clinically, so it is necessary to do paraclinical tests such as: MRI scan, CT scan, chest X-ray... to be able to confirm the diagnosis through images of the myocardium with hypertrophy, increased cardiac volume.

Treatment of dilated cardiomyopathy is mainly symptomatic.
3.1 Drug therapy The acute phase uses vasopressors. Diuretic. Vasodilators, preferred ACE inhibitors. Cardiovascular drugs such as digoxin. 3.2 Non-pharmacological treatment Applicable to patients who do not respond to medical treatment with drugs. The selected treatment methods are prescribed by the doctor in accordance with each different case:
Implantation of a pacemaker to correct irregular heartbeats. A defibrillator is implanted to generate electrical impulses in the heart to help prevent the risk of arrhythmias. Coronary bypass surgery or angioplasty to increase blood flow to the heart, ensuring volume with cardiac output. Heart valve surgery, replacement or repair of heart valves. During the treatment of dilated cardiomyopathy, it is necessary to pay attention to taking the drug exactly as prescribed by the doctor, regularly monitoring the signs of heart failure, heart rhythm disturbances and nutrition of the child.
Dilated cardiomyopathy in children is not an acute disease, but the disease can cause serious complications such as heart failure with uncomfortable signs for the child's body, even life-threatening. . The disease needs to be detected in time so that appropriate treatment can be given to avoid health sequelae.
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 leading pediatricians and doctors : 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.