Hospital de Clínicas is a reference in the State and in the Northern Region for the diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart diseases

On this June 12, National Congenital Heart Disease Awareness Day, the Gaspar Vianna Clinical Hospital (HC), a reference in pediatric cardiology in Pará and throughout the Northern Region, reinforced the importance of early diagnosis and specialized treatment of heart malformations present from birth.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Brazilian Society of Cardiology, about 29,000 children are born each year with congenital heart diseases in Brazil. The condition affects 1 in every 100 babies, and half of the cases require surgery within the first year of life.

Pediatric cardiologist Josélia Mansour, head of the Pediatric Clinic at HC, explains that screening can start during pregnancy. “In prenatal care, the morphological exam of the second trimester already evaluates the structure of the heart. The fetal echocardiogram is more detailed and is part of the routine in many maternity hospitals. After birth, we have the little heart test, mandatory since 2021, which helps identify the most severe heart diseases,” she highlighted.

Even with advancements, the specialist warns that parents should be attentive to symptoms such as bluish skin color, fatigue while feeding, excessive sweating, difficulty gaining weight, and frequent lung infections. “Heart diseases can be simple, moderate, or complex, but all require specialized medical follow-up to ensure the child's quality of life,” she reinforced.

Regional reference - At HC, children with heart diseases receive multidisciplinary follow-up from the first evaluation to surgeries and complex procedures, such as catheterizations. The hospital is a reference for Pará and neighboring states in the Northern Region.

The specialized care makes a difference in the lives of families like that of Eliel Pereira de Oliveira Júnior, 11 years old, who has already undergone four cardiac procedures. “It was desperate at first, but we were welcomed here. Today he lives well, within his limitations. The secret is to follow the treatment and never stop observing the signs,” reported his mother, Irisvânia.

Another example is the teenager Davi dos Santos, 13 years old, hospitalized since June 9 awaiting surgery. His father, Fernando dos Santos, recalls the difficulties since his son's premature birth. “If you take care of them properly from an early age, they will overcome. Now we just have to wait with faith,” he said.

Training and qualification - In addition to direct assistance, the Hospital de Clínicas also invests in the training of professionals. On August 22 and 23, it will promote the 3rd Pediatric Cardiology Journey, a multiprofessional event that will bring together local and national specialists to discuss advancements and best practices in the care of children with heart diseases.

“The goal is to train more professionals so that diagnosis and treatment are done early and safely. We need to talk about this and prepare our services to welcome these children and their families with quality and responsibility,” concluded Josélia Mansour.