Three weeks later, Jack has an operation to repair his ventricular-septal defect.
Jack makes an uneventful recovery from his surgery. After two days in the paediatric intensive care unit, he spends a further eight days in hospital before being discharged home. His mum stays with him during his time in hospital.
| Care pathway for Jack | |
|---|---|
 |
post-surgical echocardiogram |
 |
pain relief (intravenous morphine based) – to ensure pain free following operation |
| diuretics (spironolactone) – to get rid of excess fluid | |
 |
ECG – to ensure normal heart rhythm restored following surgery |
 |
psychological support for parents – essential, even though now relatively routine operation |
Pulse point
A small number of children who have a VSD repair performed will go on to develop heart block. See Cardiac Investigations: Electrocardiography: 12 lead ECG examples for an example of heart blocks. Jack will be monitored for any evidence of this at future review appointments.
