After an allergic reaction to a spray, a hidden heart defect was found in a 12-year-old girl

At 12-year-old Kira from Lviv region a patent arterial duct — a hidden heart defect — was closed, which was accidentally discovered after an acute allergic reaction to a throat spray. Instead of open surgery, doctors performed a minimally invasive procedure through a single puncture.

The diagnosis was prompted by an event a year ago: after using the spray the girl began vomiting blood. Because of an acute allergic reaction to the medication she was urgently examined and a duct in the area of the heart was found, which should have closed in the first days of life.

Until then the family had not noticed any health problems with the child. Kira’s mother said:

“We didn’t even know she had this, because she grew up as a completely healthy child: she ran, attended PE, and took part in dance. And then it turned out there was an open duct and blood was pouring from the heart. We were told it couldn’t be left that way, because any infection in the body posed a threat to the heart.”

Pediatric cardiologist Khrystyna Kachur explained why even a defect without noticeable symptoms requires preventive closure:

“A patent arterial duct can for a long time not cause pronounced symptoms of heart failure, but it is recommended to be closed for preventive reasons. Because of the high-velocity blood flow, any bacterial infection in the body, even common tonsillitis or tooth decay, carries the risk of a dangerous complication: bacterial inflammation of the heart’s lining and valves — infective endocarditis. This is a rather rare complication, but it can occur.”

Closing the duct required a special coil paid for by the state. Kira waited almost a year for this implant. Its use made it possible to avoid open surgery.

The procedure was jointly performed by teams from two medical institutions:

• cardiologists and anesthesiologists of St. Nicholas Hospital;
• interventional radiologists of St. Panteleimon Hospital.

Now the girl must spend several months taking it easy and undergo follow-up check-ups. After that she will be able to dance again.

Earlier we wrote:

• 13-year-old Dana discharged after the first lung transplant in Ukraine
• In Ukraine, lungs were transplanted to a child and a heart to an 11-year-old boy for the first time
• A 13-year-old girl breathes on her own: Ukraine performed the first pediatric lung transplant
• When it seemed impossible, Ukrainian medics launched a helicopter and rescued a teenager
• The death of a 4-year-old girl became a salvation: in Kyiv three children were saved thanks to donation