Did you tell your baby that you need to have the Glenn procedure? (Glenn Procedure) - Let's talk about this simply.

It's normal to feel a lot of fear and anxiety when your doctor tells you that your little one needs heart surgery. Especially when it comes to a 'Glenn Procedure,' you may not have imagined what it's going to be like even after hearing its name. But don't worry. We'll talk about this surgery, why it's done, and what happens afterward in a very simple way that you can understand.

Simply put, what is the Glenn Procedure?

Imagine, there is a large vein that collects the oxygen-poor, 'dirty' blood from the upper parts of our body (head, neck, arms) and brings it to the heart. We call this the 'Superior Vena Cava' . Normally, in a healthy heart, this blood passes through the chambers of the heart and is pumped to the lungs, where it is 'cleaned' by picking up oxygen.

But some babies with congenital heart diseases cannot make this journey properly due to problems with the structure of their hearts. Perhaps one side of the heart is not developed properly, or there may be a problem with a valve.

The Glenn procedure bypasses this problematic part of the heart and connects the 'dirty' blood coming from above directly to the pulmonary arteries. In other words, it creates a short route (bypass) that takes the blood directly to the lungs instead of going through the heart's blockage. This allows the oxygen-poor blood to go to the lungs without any obstruction.

In what types of heart conditions does this surgery need to be performed?

The Glenn procedure is a treatment for several very rare and complex heart conditions. Doctors typically recommend this procedure for babies with the following conditions:

When will the surgery be performed and what happens before it?

Glenn surgery is usually performed when the baby is between 3 and 6 months old . In most cases, this is the second surgery. For babies with this type of heart condition, an initial surgery (such as a Blalock-Taussig (BT) shunt) is performed at birth to somewhat improve blood flow. Then, when the baby is a little older, Glenn surgery is performed as the next step.

Before surgery

Before deciding on a date for surgery, doctors need to get a very clear picture of the baby's heart. To do this, they perform tests such as:

• Cardiac Catheterization: A test in which a small tube is passed through a vein in the leg or arm to the heart, measuring the pressure inside the heart and looking closely at its structure.
• Heart MRI: This helps to plan surgery by obtaining detailed three-dimensional (3D) images of the heart.
• You should tell the doctor about all medications your baby is taking (including vitamins and supplements) .

What happens during and after the surgery?

During surgery

A Glenn operation usually takes about 4 hours . However, the time can vary depending on the baby's condition. During this entire time, the baby is under general anesthesia. This means that he doesn't feel anything, he is completely asleep.

Some children may need a cardiopulmonary bypass machine to temporarily take over the function of their heart and lungs during surgery. The surgeon will use the remnants of previous surgeries to connect the superior vena cava to the vein that carries blood to the lungs.

After the surgery

Seeing your baby after surgery can be scary. He or she will be hooked up to a series of tubes and monitors that show his or her heart rate and oxygen levels. But all of this is to monitor the baby's condition closely. The baby will be kept in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for about 3 days and will be closely monitored. After that, he or she will be transferred to a regular ward and will be able to go home in a few more days.

What are the benefits and possible complications of the Glenn procedure?

Like any surgery, the Glenn procedure has its benefits as well as some risks. It is important to be aware of these.

The success rate of this surgery is very high, approximately 99% . So don't worry. The doctors are well aware of these risks and are well trained to manage them.

Keep an eye on this after you get home!

After you get home from the hospital, you should be very careful about your baby's condition. If you notice any of the following symptoms, you should call your doctor immediately .

• Fever.
• Bleeding from a surgical wound or other fluid.
• Difficulty drinking milk or refusing to drink milk.
• The baby is not gaining weight properly.
• Difficulty breathing or the baby's lips/fingernails turning blue.

Before you are discharged from the hospital, you will be given a date for your next appointment with the cardiologist. Be sure to bring your baby with you on those dates.