Congenital Heart Block Treatment in Turkey
About Congenital Heart Block
Key Highlights
-
Life-saving intervention that restores a normal heart rate and rhythm.Prevents serious complications like heart failure, fainting spells, or sudden cardiac arrest.Allows for normal growth, development, and physical activity in children.Modern pacemakers are programmable and can be adjusted as the child grows.Minimally invasive surgical techniques often lead to smaller scars and faster recovery.Provides long-term, reliable management of the congenital heart block./ul
Who is this surgery for?
- Complete (third-degree) congenital heart block with a slow heart rate.
- Heart block associated with symptoms like fatigue, dizziness, fainting (syncope), or poor feeding in infants.
- Evidence of heart dysfunction or enlargement (cardiomyopathy) due to the slow heart rate.
- Wide QRS complex escape rhythm on ECG.
- Heart block that does not resolve after treating an underlying cause (e.g., maternal lupus).
- Prophylactic implantation in high-risk asymptomatic infants with very low heart rates.
How to prepare
- Comprehensive cardiac evaluation including ECG, echocardiogram, and possibly a 24-hour Holter monitor.
- Pre-operative blood tests and imaging to assess overall health.
- Consultation with the pediatric cardiac surgeon, anesthesiologist, and cardiologist.
- Fasting for a specified period (typically 6-8 hours for solids) before surgery.
- Discussion of the procedure, risks, and benefits with the child's parents or guardians.
- Possible administration of antibiotics to prevent infection.
Risks & possible complications
- Bleeding, infection, or reaction to anesthesia.
- Injury to blood vessels, nerves, or the heart muscle during lead placement.
- Pacemaker malfunction, lead dislodgement, or fracture.
- Pocket infection or erosion of the pacemaker generator through the skin.
- Blood clots (thrombosis) or perforation of the heart.
- Rarely, life-threatening arrhythmias during or after the procedure.
Recovery & hospital stay
- Initial recovery in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) for close monitoring of heart rhythm and vital signs.
- The chest incision and pacemaker site will be kept clean and dry.
- Pain management with appropriate medications.
- Parents will be educated on pacemaker care, signs of infection, and activity restrictions.
- Avoidance of strenuous activity and contact sports for a period as advised by the cardiologist.
- Regular follow-up appointments for pacemaker checks (interrogation) to ensure proper function and adjust settings as needed.
-
Typical hospital stay:
7-14 days
-
Expected recovery time:
4-6 weeks for initial healing; lifelong pacemaker management
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are considering congenital heart block in Turkey, these questions and answers can help you make a confident, informed decision.
Top-rated hospitals in Turkey with pediatric cardiac surgery departments and experienced surgeons are ideal for this procedure. Use MediFyr to compare facilities, reviews, and doctor profiles before you decide.
Look at the doctor’s years of experience, hospital association, patient reviews, and how often they perform congenital heart block. MediFyr helps you compare pediatric cardiac surgeons and book consultations online.
The overall cost depends on hospital category, surgeon’s experience, room type, implant or device used (if any), length of stay, tests, and post-operative care. Our team can help you get cost estimates from multiple hospitals before you decide.
Procedure cost in other countries
Here is an overview of how the estimated cost, hospital stay, and recovery time for congenital heart block compare across other countries where we have data.
As a follow-up patient for over...
As a follow-up patient for over five years, I’ve seen Dr. Coelho evolve but never lose his personal touch. He remembers small details about my life and always asks how school is going, it feels like visiting family, not just a doctor.