Pulmonary Stenosis and Childhood Development
1%. This may seem like a miniscule number, one that you think you can easily ignore. What if it changes to 40,000? Now, it doesn’t seem minute, but rather seems macroscopic. One percent or forty-thousand refers to the number of newborn babies suffering from congenital heart defects (CHD) in the United States every year. Forty-thousand refers to the eighteen congenital heart defects that can victimize an innocent child, whether it be a hole in the heart, ventricular issues, or aortic conditions. One common heart defect is pulmonary stenosis, a condition that affects the pulmonary valve because of abnormal fetal heart development during the first eight weeks of pregnancy. If an infant is diagnosed with the disease early, basic treatment can be provided, but there are long-term effects. These long-term effects ultimately impact development, both physical and intellectual.
In the simplest terms, pulmonary stenosis refers to the problems that exist with the pulmonary valve: the valve that is between the right ventricle and pulmonary artery. When deoxygenated blood enters the right atrium from the superior and inferior vena cava, it travels to the right ventricle which pumps blood to the dividing pulmonary artery that supplies blood to both lungs. To keep the current of blood flow in a forward direction, valves exist. Valves are made up of leaflets, which open to let blood flow to the artery and close so blood doesn’t flow back. Issues with the leaflets of the pulmonary valve trigger a child to develop pulmonary stenosis. Many people overlook the function of valves, but its job is crucial in heart health. If the heart did not have valves, blood would constantly flow back into the ventricles. Deoxygenated blood would return back to different body parts, the lungs would not be able to oxygenate the blood, and the body’s homeostasis would collapse. Pulmonary stenosis can lead to the right ventricle exerting too much pressure. This same pressure is sent back to the right atrium and the veins at the right side of the heart. Fluid retention occurs and the child experiences pain.
In mild cases of pulmonary stenosis, the condition’s severity decreases as one ages or can be treated through a minimally invasive surgery known as valvuloplasty. As mentioned before, developmental issues arise as a result of these heart defects. For example, how will this heart defect change how much a child weighs in comparison to the rest of his/her classmates and how will it affect his/her psychological well being? Students, researchers, and scientists at the University of Rochester Medical Center wanted to decipher the answers to these same questions. Studies revealed that development will most likely be slower in children with pulmonary stenosis. With respect to physical appearance, children will look younger, thinner, and even malnourished if they have a heart disease. This is because their height and weight are lower than children their age. Finally, they may not achieve certain developmental milestones like rolling over, talking, and toilet training.
With regards to psychology and mind function, these intellectual developmental issues are presented when a child enters eleven to twelve years of age or even becomes an adolescent. Hypoxia, or lack of oxygen is a direct effect of pulmonary stenosis and can cause learning disabilities in a child. This can affect their focus on achievement and intelligence tests, reducing their overall intelligence, and possibly self-esteem. Children who undergo surgery are more likely to suffer from hyperactivity disorders, affecting their cognitive function. The inability to focus can trigger trouble remembering, which ultimately affects language and behavior. Emotional developmental issues are bound to occur if a child feels inferior that they are suffering from a condition that his/her peer is not. If this persists, they can enter depression as an adolescent, especially if their condition is serious.
Causes for these developmental disabilities stem back to a myriad of factors. For example, genetics and chromosomal abnormalities can lead to heart defects, which affects thinking and motor development. A child’s heart has to work extra hard with pulmonary stenosis to continually supply blood. If a child is inadequately fed, his/her energy requirements aren’t met. This affects their physical growth, such as the development of their muscles, bones, and nerves. In turn, their height and weight are lower. If a child is suffering from a serious form of pulmonary stenosis, they would need to visit the hospital routinely, limiting social interactions. Love and belonging needs are listed as the second most important necessity according to Abraham Maslow. If a child feels they do not belong or are loved because they cannot talk to or play with others, they can face emotional and related intellectual issues.
Pulmonary stenosis, along with other congenital heart defects have profound impacts on children — -both physiological and developmental. These issues are real and need to be addressed. Our responsibility is to help children, not only because they are our future, but to offer them a new lease at life.
Works Cited
Stanford Children’s Health. (n.d.). Anatomy and Function of the Heart Valves. Retrieved from
https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=anatomyandfunctionoftheheartvalves-90-P03059.
WebMD. (n.d.). 18 Types of Congenital Heart Defects. Retrieved from
https://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/types-congenital-heart-defects.
UCSF Health. (n.d.). Pulmonary Stenosis Treatments. Retrieved from
https://www.ucsfhealth.org/conditions/pulmonary-stenosis/treatment.
Children’s National. (n.d.). Pediatric Pulmonary Stenosis — Conditions and Treatments | Children’s
National Hospital. Retrieved from http://childrensnational.org/visit/conditions-and-treatments/heart/pulmonary-stenosis.
CDC. (2019, November 12). Estimates of People in the US with CHDs | CDC. Retrieved from
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/heartdefects/features/kf-chd-estimates-us.html.
AboutKidsHealth. (2009, December 14). Intellectual development and children with heart disease.
Retrieved from https://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/article?contentid=1701&language=English.
