What Are the Treatment Principles for Surgery in Down Syndrome?

Question

A friend has been diagnosed with Down syndrome for about a year and has been suffering from the illness, experiencing great pain. I’m wondering what kind of treatment the doctor suggests? What are the treatment principles for Down syndrome?

Answer

Down syndrome is a common chromosomal disorder in clinical practice, characterized by intellectual disability, growth delay, and specific dementia. Currently, there is no specific treatment for Down syndrome; it primarily involves symptomatic treatment. If there are other malformations, surgical treatment may be considered. Generally, it often involves heart conditions, and aggressive cardiac surgery is an option that does not require special attention. Preoperative examinations should be conducted according to the doctor’s instructions. For example, blood tests, stool and urine samples, electrocardiograms, ultrasounds, and CT scans.