Necessary knowledge about the accessory chord of the left ventricle of the heart. Additional chord in the heart in a child: causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment False chord of the left ventricle in an adult

Girls, whose child had this diagnosis? We were diagnosed in the maternity hospital on the second day after birth based on a heart ultrasound. They say we will outgrow it, it happens to many people. There is still an open oval window. My sister, by the way, also has this diagnosis, but she is already 18 years old, and she still hasn’t outgrown it... Share your experience, and maybe I need to do something NOW (before it’s too late) to avoid the risk that will not outgrow. Maybe there is something you should include in your diet or not allow...

Signs of pathology and diagnosis

Atypical threads are also found in the right ventricle of the heart, but most often in the left. They occupy the basal, middle or apical sections of the chamber. In more than half of the cases, the anomalous chord is the only one, in the rest it forms a group. Depending on the histology, the threads can be of three types: muscle, muscle-fibrous and fibrous. Currently, they are determined immediately after birth. If the pathology is not detected, then it may manifest itself in the future through the following symptoms:

chest pain;
good heartbeat audibility;
general weakness and fatigue;
autonomic cardiac disorders;
arrhythmia;
the appearance of systolic murmur;
fluctuations in blood circulation speed;
violations of the anatomical structure of the left ventricle.

Today, several methods have been developed to determine the false chord of the left ventricle. Using the Doppler effect, the size, nature and density of the false formation are determined. Ultrasound helps to examine the external manifestations of pathology, and echocardiography gives an audio picture of its condition. For children less than 1 month old from the date of birth, it is recommended to perform only echocardiography. This is explained by the small size of the heart, so it is almost impossible to examine and measure anything. Usually, in a child, abnormal fibers in the heart show little sign of themselves, especially if the chord is single. In some cases, abnormal phenomena disappear spontaneously, without medical intervention.

Impact on quality of life and necessary therapy

Modern medicine is of the opinion that additional fibers in the ventricle can worsen the condition over time if they are not isolated, especially when found in the right chamber of the heart. With age, a person may develop diseases such as:

endocardial disorder - in the case of a short chord;
the appearance of fibrosis - proliferation, compaction of tissue, accompanied by the formation of scars;
impossibility of relaxation after contraction;
disturbances in the conductivity of electrical impulses;
disorder of the biomechanical functions of the heart muscle.

Classical treatment of the pathology of additional fibers in the ventricles of the heart with the use of drugs is not prescribed, since the disease refers to minor cardiac anomalies. It is believed that a child should not be completely prohibited from leading an active lifestyle. You need to pay attention to proper nutrition, enhanced by fortified foods. To improve the conductivity of electrical signals, you should consume more foods containing the elements potassium and magnesium.

Regular walks at a young age and physical therapy classes at an older age will help strengthen the heart myocardium. Many doctors recommend slow dance classes, wall bars, and sprinting. It is prohibited to engage in artistic gymnastics, parachuting, strength sports, wrestling and boxing. Psychologists insist on the socialization of children and the least possible restriction of motor functions with constant monitoring by an experienced cardiologist.

The diagnosis of false chord of the left ventricle is not yet a reason for despondency. Often people with such pathologies live full lives for many years, without even knowing about their illness. But this does not mean that you need to let things take their course. The child must be checked periodically in the cardiology department. It is useful to take preventive measures against infectious inflammation of the inner surface of the myocardium.

This disease cannot be cured with the help of folk remedies, so self-medication is strictly prohibited.

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Description

To understand what it is and why a false chord occurs in people’s hearts, it is necessary to understand how the heart works. The organ consists of the left and right atria, and ventricles (right and left). Normally, if the heart works as expected, then blood moves through the organ from the atria to the cardiac ventricles.

The valves located between these parts of the heart provide one-way blood flow, which occurs due to the closing and opening of the valves during heart contractions. In order for the valves to move well and be flexible, they are supported from the ventricles of the organ by tendon threads called chords of the heart.

These parts of the organ contract in turn, which puts the valves in tension mode and facilitates the unimpeded passage of blood into the ventricle area. At the moment of relaxation of the chord, the valve flaps close, which makes it impossible for the blood to flow back into the heart.

In all cases, the abnormal chord develops while the child is still in the womb. In adulthood, such an anomaly cannot suddenly appear. When the formation of the fetal heart begins, another accessory chord may develop in the organ, in some cases there are several of them. Doctors will tell you whether this condition is dangerous for the baby’s health and how it will affect its further development. But with such a diagnosis in a child, there is no need to panic.

False chords are an additional thread that helps the heart work. This anomaly is not dangerous in most cases of this pathology; it does not carry a serious hemodynamic load, and therefore does not upset cardiac activity. An additional chord in the heart of a child develops for several reasons.

Predisposing factors:

Genetic predisposition, which is due to the presence of heart pathologies or vascular disorders in close relatives.
Bad habits of the mother during pregnancy. If a woman smoked and drank alcohol during pregnancy, then an extra chord in the baby’s heart is more likely to appear.
A poor environmental situation can provoke such a heart pathology in a child.

There are several varieties of this condition, on which the prognosis of a person’s disease depends. False chords are divided into types and location in the organ.

Typically, left ventricular chordae tendineae are diagnosed, in over 90% of all cases, but there is a small percentage of right ventricular chordae, about 4-5%.
The number of these additional threads in the heart may vary, but more often the abnormal chord appears in a single copy; such cases account for about 70%. Doctors diagnose multiple chordae in about 30% of all such anomalies.

The direction of the chords plays a huge role in the prognosis of the disease; they can be transverse, longitudinal or diagonal.

The location where the abnormal chord is located may vary. The basal, middle or apical tendon filament is distinguished.

Some types of such pathology are dangerous or hemodynamically significant. There are also minor conditions that do not require medical supervision.

Symptoms and treatment

If the false chord in the heart is located in the left ventricle and it is single, then symptoms are usually absent. Manifestations of the disease occur only if the anomaly has developed in the left ventricular part of the organ, or there are several such formations.

Signs:

increased fatigue;
a person constantly feels a loss of strength;
increased heart rate;
stabbing sensations in the heart;
dizziness;
the person is very unstable mentally;
heart rhythm failure.

The appearance or increase in symptoms occurs during puberty, when the child becomes a teenager. This period is characterized by increased growth of bone and muscle tissue. It is important not to ignore such manifestations, otherwise an additional chord in a child’s heart can seriously damage his health.

If the chord has grown across the organ, then the situation is considered serious. This position greatly interferes with the normal flow of blood, and the heart may work intermittently. With this diagnosis, people are constantly monitored by a cardiologist. Symptoms of the condition can manifest themselves vividly, and there is a need to constantly take medications to normalize cardiac activity.

Diagnostic measures include several studies.

Electrocardiogram (ECG). This technique allows you to identify rhythm disturbances in the organ.
Ultrasound of the heart. During this examination method, the doctor can detect this pathology.

Additional diagnostic methods are prescribed based on the patient’s well-being and all symptoms of the disease.

Therapy for this disease is necessary only when unpleasant symptoms occur. If nothing bothers a person, then treatment is not needed. Sometimes, in very rare cases, the patient's condition becomes very serious, which requires immediate placement of this person in a hospital. Even less often, there is a need for surgical intervention, during which an additional chord is excised.

Features of the disease in children

The localization of the problem makes parents whose children are diagnosed with “additional chordae” seriously worry. But in reality, people can live their whole lives into old age with this pathology and feel great.

Typically, such an anatomical anomaly in a child’s heart makes itself felt in adolescence. Children begin to complain of constant fatigue or heart pain. It is necessary to treat such child complaints with maximum responsibility and undergo an examination. Even in the absence of manifestations and treatment, there are limitations:

Create a proper daily routine so that the child has enough time to rest.
All physical activity must be carefully controlled. It is impossible to overload a child with such a diagnosis.
The patient's diet must be properly planned. Children should receive all the necessary nutrients, this is very important for cardiac function.
Emotional stress can also negatively affect the condition of the heart, so any stress is contraindicated for such a patient.

There are certain sports that are acceptable for children with this diagnosis. Doctors often recommend gymnasts, since the loads characteristic of this type of sports activity will only benefit children.

Right-sided false chord is a serious diagnosis in which other cardiac pathologies may occur. A baby whose examination has revealed this type of pathology must be constantly observed by a doctor and his health monitored constantly, even at home.

An extra chord is not a death sentence. There is no need to worry too much if your child is suddenly diagnosed with this disease. Medicine can help such patients, the main thing is to see a doctor in time. To protect your baby from this disease, you need to carefully plan your pregnancy, get rid of bad habits in advance, establish a daily routine and eat right. The health of her baby depends on the expectant mother, so every effort must be made to ensure that the child is born without pathologies.

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Chords in the left ventricle: features

An additional chord manifested in the very left ventricle of the heart is a diagnosis that can only be established on the basis of a thorough ultrasound, and not by listening or an ECG. Of course, if a very young patient has a heart murmur and there is no suspicion of a serious defect, the doctor may suspect that it is a false chord or valve prolapse.

Quite often, not very honest specialists, especially various pediatricians, after carefully listening to the baby and pretending to be serious, say that your child has a certain murmur in the very heart and this is the notorious additional chord. A referral is issued for an urgent ultrasound. At the same time, not a single word about the detected noise is written in the outpatient card. If you go to a disinterested expert, it turns out that there was and is no dangerous noise. You need to know that a false chord cannot cause a heart murmur.

The additional chord itself is a certain cord, which is attached with one side to the leaf of a small valve, and, accordingly, the other to the wall of the heart itself. A person has several such chords, and their main function is to help the valve not bend too much all the time, but to retain blood during the period when the heart begins to contract. If one or more of these false chordae are thicker and denser, they become clearly visible on ultrasound. This is always and without fail written about in the conclusion, adding the favorite phrase - hemodynamically insignificant. This means that the false chorda does not affect the heart in any way. It does not require any treatment.

If the additional chord discovered by the doctor is still hemodynamically significant, you need to go for a detailed consultation with an experienced cardiac surgeon. But don’t worry, because this doesn’t mean that it will have to be surgically excised, you just need to understand the current medical situation.

False chord of the left ventricle: symptoms

Signs of the presence of a left ventricular chord in the heart are quite nonspecific. They can manifest themselves as a violation of the rhythm of the heart muscle, a syndrome of too early repolarization of the ventricles, as well as a symptom of their pre-excitation. An apical murmur may also be present.

Echocardiography helps to quickly detect the passages of the left ventricle. The method is painless and quick, so it will not cause any discomfort to the patient.

Often, false chords in your heart do not affect your quality of life. This cardiac anomaly does not have even the slightest effect on the prognosis. Do not be nervous if you have a symptom of the disease and it is confirmed during a heart examination.

Lifestyle after detection of a false chord of the left ventricle

If you have discovered additional chords of the left ventricle, or if they are particularly located or if there are a lot of them, there may be a fairly serious disturbance in the usual heart rhythm.

It is imperative to know that in such a common situation relaxation disorders of the left ventricle occur. You will need to reduce physical activity, as you will cause serious damage to the heart muscle - it simply will not be able to cope with active blood pumping. You shouldn’t take risks, so limit your active sports activities.

Those patients who have at least an additional chord of the left ventricle are recommended to regularly undergo a thorough professional examination by their cardiologist and have an ECG. It is also useful to consider all measures to prevent infective endocarditis. Taking care of your heart and health in general will not be superfluous for you. It’s better to play it safe and be calm about your body.

Different doctors, of course, give different advice when they find a chord of an additional type of left ventricle in a patient. Some say that you should only do gymnastics and constant physical therapy, and some say that there are no special contraindications, so you should categorically exclude only scuba diving and emotional parachute jumping. If a child with such a really common diagnosis is sent to professional sports, frequent and mandatory monitoring of heart function is necessary.

The left ventricular chord is the reason why people are practically not accepted into the army. But they may suddenly turn a blind eye to this, since the young person may simply not feel pain symptoms.

The conclusion is that going to dances with such a chord is useful, and constantly monitoring your physical shape is also recommended. If there is a special need, the doctor will prescribe a course of exercise therapy for you. It takes place directly in your clinic, where you will be under the watchful supervision of specialists. Exercises are selected strictly individually so as not to disturb the rhythm of your heart.

If after such training there is an improvement in the condition of the heart muscle and additional chords of the left ventricle, the doctor, after a certain period of time, will send you to these classes again. Positive dynamics can be seen almost immediately. But certainly remember that if you feel severe tension or some strange pain in your heart, you should immediately report this to your trainer and cardiologist. It may be necessary to adjust the training and physical activity that was initially chosen.

All photographic materials are taken from the site Google.Images.ru

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What is a chord in the heart?

The heart muscle normally consists of the following parts:

right ventricle;
left ventricle;
left atrium;
right atrium;

The organ also contains auxiliary valves that help pump blood. Normal blood circulation through the vessels of the body at a sufficient speed is ensured by rhythmic contractions of the heart muscle. The valves are movable and perform the function of letting blood in and out of the heart.

The chordae perform an important protective function of the heart valves from sagging over time. They are strong tendon threads that are attached to the leaflets of the atrioventricular valves. The chords ensure the normal operation of the movable valves by holding them. During normal development, one chord should be attached to each valve leaflet.

What are the chords in the heart?

Chords in the heart are divided into 3 types:

Natural– those that are provided by nature to ensure normal heart function. They help the valves contract and move blood around the body. They also have the function of protecting against valve sagging with age.
Abnormal- additional chords, which are divided into some subtypes and create some obstacles to the normal functioning of the cardiac organ.
False chord in the heart– when listening to the heart, murmurs may be detected that are mistakenly taken by the doctor for chords, however, upon further diagnosis they are not detected, and the murmurs appear as a consequence of another cause.

An abnormal chord in the heart can be divided into the following subtypes:

right ventricular chords – about 5% of cases;
left ventricular chords – about 95% of cases;
single – 70%;
multiple – 30%;
diagonal;
longitudinal;
transverse;
apical;
middle;
basal;

In the course of their research, experts divided existing chords into 2 categories:

Potentially dangerous;
Safe;

Patients whose pathologies belong to type 1 chords should be under the supervision of a doctor and undergo periodic examinations.

For example, single longitudinal chords in the ventricles of the heart do not create obstacles to the normal functioning of the cardiac organ, but if the chord is located transversely, it can significantly impede the normal outflow of blood.

Multiple chordae are often hereditary diseases and can further provoke the development of certain heart diseases:

arrhythmias;
intraventricular conduction disorders;
ischemic stroke;
in rare cases can provoke a heart attack;

Multiple chordae should be under the supervision of a cardiologist in order to begin treatment of the pathology in a timely manner, if necessary.

Additional chord in the heart - what is it?

An additional chord in the child’s heart is formed during pregnancy, when the heart muscle is formed. They are often isolated and do not cause discomfort. It is not a serious pathology that requires medical intervention, however, after detection, periodic monitoring by a specialist is required.

The additional chord has the following characteristics:

Has no effect on hemodynamics– such chords are benign formations in the heart muscle that do not affect its normal activity in any way and do not require treatment.
Affects hemodynamics– in this case, the chord affects cardiac activity in one way or another, especially the transverse chords, and requires periodic monitoring by a specialist with the possible prescription of treatment.

An abnormal formation inside the heart cannot always be detected; there are cases when people live for years without suspecting anything.

Causes of the anomaly

There are several possible reasons when a child develops a chord of the left ventricle of the heart during intrauterine development.

These include:

hereditary factor, when one of the child’s parents also has extra stringy formations inside the heart, most often transmitted through the maternal line;
mother's poor lifestyle– the use of drugs, drinks containing alcohol or smoking tobacco products can negatively affect the formation of the fetus. Especially if these factors took place at 5-6 weeks of pregnancy, when the baby’s heart muscle is actively forming;
poor nutrition with excessive content of animal fats;
heavy physical activity on the pregnant body;
intrauterine infections in the fetus;
reduced immunity mothers in the first trimester of pregnancy;
living in a contaminated region(chemical and heavy industry waste, increased background radiation);
frequent stressful situations that have an effect on the nervous system and psyche;

Symptoms and diagnosis

In early childhood, a chord in the heart may not manifest itself in any way and may be discovered completely by accident, during the examination of another disease. This rule also applies to single chords, which are located in the left ventricle.

If there are multiple or transverse abnormalities in the right ventricle, you may notice the following symptoms in the child:

rapid heartbeat;
frequent and rapid fatigue;
feeling of weakness in the body;
the appearance of frequent dizziness;
discomfort and tingling in the heart area;
frequent mood changes;
heart rhythm disturbance.

In the presence of formations in the right ventricle, these manifestations cannot always be noticed in early childhood. Most often they appear during the period of active growth of the child - in primary and secondary school age.

If you suspect the presence of a chord, you should contact a pediatrician who will conduct research and, if necessary, refer you to a cardiologist.

To diagnose the disease, the following measures are taken:

Today, all children at the age of 1 month have an electrocardiogram taken to diagnose possible heart diseases for the purpose of prevention and timely treatment of pathologies.

Manifestations of an additional chord in the heart and what disorders does it lead to?

An additional chord in the heart may not manifest itself in any way, or it may lead to the symptoms described above - this depends on their number and specific location. It is important for parents not to ignore the child’s complaints about fatigue and poor health, but to conduct a thorough diagnosis from a specialist.

The consequences of the presence of a tumor in the heart muscle can be as follows:

sometimes, as the organ grows, the chord may shift or decrease in size, becoming inaccessible for its diagnosis. In this case, it cannot in any way interfere with the normal functioning of the child;
the appearance of a violation of the blood conduction of the muscle;
arrhythmia;
endocarditis;
thrombophlebitis;
in severe cases, ischemic stroke;
rapid fatigue even with moderate physical activity;
severe dizziness, sometimes fainting;
heart rhythm disturbances;
frequent mood swings;

It often happens that “dangerous” types of formations can lead to general underdevelopment of connective tissue, which, in turn, threatens the following pathologies:

tall;
thin build;
joint hypermobility;
deformation of bone tissue;
diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
diseases of the kidneys and excretory system;

Treatment of the consequences of an additional chord

Often, if an additional chord is detected, no treatment is prescribed, however, in severe cases of pathologies with manifestations in the form of discomfort and pain in the heart area, the doctor may prescribe the following drugs:

fortified complexes enriched with B vitamins;
preparations containing magnesium and potassium;
antioxidants;
nootropic drugs.

It should be remembered that medications are prescribed only by a specialist after diagnostic measures have been carried out.

In particularly severe cases, when multiple chordae interfere with the normal functioning of the heart muscle, surgery may be prescribed, however, this happens extremely rarely.

Recommendations for anomalies - lifestyle, what not to do?

To maintain the normal functioning of a person with abnormalities in the development of the heart muscle, it is necessary to observe the following lifestyle:

With a mild degree of pathology, you can lead a normal life without denying yourself active hobbies and sports. However, an additional chord and an army are incompatible concepts, since they involve great physical activity, which is contraindicated for this pathology.

Experts classify the formation of an additional chord in the heart as a minor pathology, which in most cases does not require drug treatment or surgical intervention. In general, the forecast is quite positive. However, it is still necessary to monitor the development of the disease, sometimes visiting doctors and performing control diagnostic measures.

Conduction disturbance along the right bundle branch Symptoms of myocarditis

There are several chords in the human heart that prevent the valve from bending during contraction of this organ. Thanks to their presence, it retains blood well and ensures adequate hemodynamics. The normal chord is a kind of spring with a muscular structure. Sometimes during intrauterine development, an additional notochord appears in one of them, which is a thread-like cord of connective tissue. In some cases, this abnormal formation includes muscle or tendon fibers.

In this article we will look at such a minor cardiac anomaly as an accessory chord of the left ventricle. In most cases, it is found in children under 18 years of age, but some people live with this diagnosis for many years and do not feel any changes in the functioning of the heart. Usually, an additional chord is detected by chance: during an examination for another disease or during a preventive examination. It is not detected either by listening to a heart murmur or by an ECG, and an accurate diagnosis can only be made after an ECHO-CG. Having heard a heart murmur, the doctor can only suspect the presence of this minor heart anomaly and recommend an ultrasound examination to refute or confirm the diagnosis.

In our article we will introduce you to the causes of development, types, symptoms, methods of observation, treatment and prevention of accessory chord of the left ventricle. This knowledge will help parents of children with such a heart anomaly choose the right tactics to approach the problem and save them from unnecessary worries.

An abnormal chord of the left ventricle is a hereditary anomaly, which in 92% of cases is inherited through the maternal line (in rare cases, through the paternal line), and develops in utero due to a failure in the development of connective tissue. That is why mothers who have previously been diagnosed with this disease are recommended to have their child examined.

It is possible that the following unfavorable factors may be the reasons for the appearance of an additional chord:

poor environment;
smoking or drinking alcohol and drugs;
nervous and physical stress.

Species

The additional chord can be located in different parts of the left ventricle and have a different structure and structure. Cardiologists distinguish the following types of chords:

by histological structure: fibrous, fibromuscular, muscular;
in the direction of the connective tissue fibers: longitudinal, transverse, diagonal;
by the number of threadlike strands: single, multiple;
by place of attachment: apical, middle, basal.

Symptoms

A pediatrician may suspect a disease in a child during a routine examination and examination of the child, paying attention to a systolic murmur during auscultation of the heart.

In most cases, the additional chord of the left ventricle does not bear any functional load on the heart and does not interfere with its normal functioning. For many years, this small anomaly may not be detected, because it is not accompanied by any special symptoms. The pediatrician can listen to a systolic heart murmur in a newborn, which is determined between the third and fourth ribs to the left of the sternum and does not in any way affect the functioning of the heart.

During intensive development, when the rapid growth of the musculoskeletal system significantly outstrips the growth rate of internal organs, the load on the heart increases, and the additional chord may make itself felt for the first time. Your child may experience the following symptoms:

dizziness;
rapid or unmotivated fatigue;
psycho-emotional lability;
rapid heartbeat;

The same clinical manifestations can be observed with multiple abnormal chords of the left ventricle. Most often, such symptoms appear during adolescence. In the future, they can completely disappear on their own, but sometimes they remain in adulthood.

When symptoms appear, the child must be prescribed ECHO-CG, ECG, etc. These studies will allow the doctor to determine the presence or absence of hemodynamic disturbances. If the additional chord is “hemodynamically insignificant,” then the anomaly is considered safe, and the child only requires follow-up with a cardiologist. With a “hemodynamically significant” diagnosis, the patient is advised to observe, adhere to certain restrictions and, if necessary, treatment.

Is the accessory chord of the left ventricle dangerous?

Most cardiologists equate such a minor cardiac anomaly with a variant of the norm. The news of the presence of an additional chord in the left ventricle should not cause panic in the child’s parents, since this anomaly does not require surgical treatment and, in the absence of hemodynamic disturbances, does not require drug correction.

In some cases, an additional chord of the left ventricle may become a factor that contributes to the development of other diseases of the heart and blood vessels (disorders of cardiac rhythm and conduction, etc.). It is impossible to predict in advance how likely the development of such pathologies is.

Observation of a child with an additional chord in the absence of hemodynamic disturbances

The main method for diagnosing the accessory chord of the left ventricle is echocardiography.

If an abnormal chord is detected that is not accompanied by symptoms, no special treatment is required. For such patients, it is sufficient to be regularly monitored by a cardiologist and undergo a control ECHO-CG once a year.

observe the work and rest regime;
eat right;
engage in physical therapy;
to harden;
often be in the fresh air;
prevent stress;
ensure proper sleep;
refuse heavy physical activity;
do not take medications without doctor’s recommendations;
make a decision about participating in a particular sport together with your doctor.

Parents of such children are not recommended to protect their child from everything and treat him as a disabled person, since this can significantly affect his further socialization. Communication with friends, visiting kindergarten and school, participating in clubs and feasible sports - all this will help the child adapt normally to society and feel complete.

Treatment

If an additional chord is detected, which is accompanied by symptoms or hemodynamic disturbances, in addition to the recommendations described above and more stringent restrictions on physical activity, drug therapy is recommended.

These children may be prescribed the following medications:

Indications for immediate hospitalization in a cardiology hospital may include the following severe heart rhythm disturbances:

Morgagni-Adams-Stokes syndrome;

They can develop with multiple or transverse chordae and require detailed examination and subsequent treatment.

In rare cases, muscle fibers of the conduction system of the heart may be included in the structure of the accessory chord of the left ventricle. Such cardiac abnormalities can cause ventricular arrhythmias and ventricular fibrillation. To eliminate them, the following surgical interventions are indicated:

cryodestruction;
excision of the chord.

Prevention

In most cases, an additional chord of the left ventricle appears due to a hereditary predisposition, and it is almost impossible to prevent its development in the prenatal period. Despite this, scientists do not exclude the possibility of the development of such a minor cardiac anomaly under the influence of certain unfavorable factors. That is why pregnant women are recommended:

Eat right.
Stop smoking, drinking alcohol and drugs.
Avoid heavy physical activity.
Prevent stress.
Walk in the fresh air and do gymnastics.

If an additional chord of the left ventricle is detected in a child, parents should pay close attention to his health, follow all the doctor’s recommendations, but not completely protect him from society. An important measure to prevent complications will be the timely treatment of chronic diseases that can be complicated by heart disease.

Children with an additional chord are recommended to regularly engage in physical therapy, which involves individual selection of the load. Wall bars exercises, dancing, gymnastics, sprinting, jumping rope - these activities will help strengthen the heart muscle and prevent the development of complications.

Physical activity should not be excessive, as it can aggravate the situation. Most cardiologists do not recommend that people with accessory chordae engage in professional sports. And such types of stress that occur during diving, snorkeling or parachute jumping are absolutely contraindicated.

Modern methods of examining a child make it possible to obtain a picture of the health of his heart, in particular, to see such an anomaly as a false (additional) chord of the left ventricle.

After such a diagnosis, parents often begin to panic. But there is no reason for this, since this is not a fatal disease, but just the presence of an additional element.

But its presence in the body should not relax. Knowing what an additional chord contains and what to expect from it will help you avoid future health problems.

Causes of pathology

Doctors believe that an additional chord is a minor anomaly in the development of the heart; they diagnose it using Echo-CG. This is an additional thread in the ventricle of the heart, often of a hereditary nature.

A healthy person's heart has 4 chambers. The valves located between the atria and ventricles close and open during the ejection of blood. The functions of the chordae are to help the valves maintain mobility and flexibility. Additional chordae (sometimes there are several of them) can interfere with the functioning of the cardiovascular system.

The main reason for the development of an additional chord in the ventricular cavity in most cases is heredity: it is a “gift” from the mother, less often from the father.

If parents already have diseases of the cardiovascular system, then the child is at risk.

But experts note that factors provoking the appearance of an additional chord may be:

poor environmental condition,
mother smoking during pregnancy,
woman drinking alcohol,
mother's drug use.

All these conditions become especially dangerous for the child during the formation of connective tissue: this is approximately 5-6 weeks of intrauterine development.

Clinical picture of the presence of an additional chord

Typically, in young children, the abnormal chord of the left ventricle does not manifest itself in any way and does not interfere with the heart’s work. By listening to the child's breathing and heart rate, the doctor may hear a systolic heart murmur. It can be clearly heard between two ribs (3 and 4) on the left side of the sternum.

For several years, the symptoms of such an anomaly go unnoticed.

But during the active growth of the body, the heart receives additional stress, and the child feels unwell at a physiological level.

The symptoms that the additional chord makes itself felt are:

weakness;
dizziness;
fatigue even in the absence of load;
rapid heartbeat;
uneven heart rhythm;
pain in the heart.

Is it dangerous to have an additional chord?

It cannot be said that this anomaly is “fatal” for a person. To know the extent of the problem, it is necessary to undergo examinations when the first symptoms appear in the child.

In this case, the cardiologist:

will give a direction for Echo-KG;
will refer you for a cardiogram;
will ask you to undergo 24-hour Holter monitoring.

Only by studying the data from these studies will it be possible to say with confidence how significant this false chord is in the cavity of the left ventricle. If it is hemodynamically insignificant, then there is no reason to worry. This phenomenon is completely safe for the child and will not disrupt his normal lifestyle. But, despite this, you will still have to periodically meet with a cardiologist, because it is unknown how the additional chord will behave in different situations.

Such children are advised to undergo Echo-CG annually.

If, on the contrary, the doctor recognizes the problem as serious, then you will have to come to terms with the fact that the child will be under the supervision of a specialist and parents, and treatment will be prescribed to him. Since the additional chord in the ventricular cavity in this case will disrupt the functioning of the heart, it is necessary to make changes to the measured rhythm of the child’s life and adhere to some advice related to various restrictions in terms of physical activity and nutrition.

Treatment of pathology

If the additional chord does not worsen the child’s quality of life and is not hemodynamically significant, then, apart from observation and annual echocardiography, no other actions are taken for the baby.

In more serious cases, the doctor prescribes the following treatment:

course of vitamins;
magnesium and potassium preparations;
antioxidants;
sometimes nootropic drugs.

All these medications are aimed at improving nutrition in the cells of the heart muscle (myocardium), normalizing the processes of impulse conduction in the myocardium, and improving metabolism. Injections and tablets based on potassium and magnesium have a good effect on the functioning of the heart.

But their prescription for the same pathology is strictly individual, since some of them are contraindicated for children.

How should children with this anomaly behave?

Basic rules for the life of a child who has an additional chord:

walks;
clear daily routine;
good restful sleep;
proper nutrition;
moderate physical activity;
hardening procedures;
caution in taking medications associated with other diseases.

If your family has a child with left ventricular false chord, you must provide him with comfortable conditions for development, taking into account the problem that has arisen. To do this, you need to strictly follow the daily routine, wisely combining periods of study (or other activities) and rest.

Proper nutrition for these children is important, because not all food is good for the heart. Anything that makes the heart beat faster should be excluded from the diet. You can get detailed information about foods that are healthy and harmful for your child from a cardiologist.

Under no circumstances should you ignore physical activity.

Here are some points to keep in mind:

It is important that neither the people around the child nor the child himself consider himself a disabled person who cannot do much. This is the wrong approach.
Even exercise will benefit such a child; that’s what it’s called - therapeutic. But which exercises are allowed and which are prohibited, only a doctor can say. Remember that the main commandment of the doctor (and in this case, parents) is to do no harm.
If your child really wants to play sports, consult your doctor about what type of exercise is possible for your baby. The coach must be warned about such a player.

The child needs to be hardened, and it is important to explain to him the benefits of this procedure. Let it be at least pouring cool water on your feet, it will still be beneficial.

Walking in the fresh air is good for your heart. While walking, you can learn poetry and a foreign language. Use this time not only for health benefits, but also for the development of the little person. Usually, after such pastimes, children sleep well, and good sleep helps normalize heart rate.

It is known that from excitement or an excess of emotions the heart begins to beat faster. If a child has an extra chord, this is not very good. Adults should avoid or prevent (if possible) such situations.

If children have other diseases, you need to:

treat any medications with caution;
Do not start treatment with them without the recommendations of a cardiologist, because they may not have the best effect on the functioning of the heart.

Be attentive to your children diagnosed with “false chord of the left ventricle” and come to their aid in time.