Atrial Septal Defect Repair
After we are born, our hearts are still forming. For some people, a small part of the hear does not close. This is called an atrial septal defect (ASD). If left untreated, ASD can put a person at a greater risk for a certain kind of heart failure, problems with heart rhythm or stroke. ASDs are seen in 30 to 40 percent of congenital heart disease patients age 40 and older. Symptoms for the defect are uncommon, but can include arrhythmia, fatigue, leg swelling and shortness of breath.
Previously, the only options were open-heart surgery or what doctors call "watchful waiting," since the risk for surgery far outweighed the benefits. However, today we have a new option that uses minimally invasive surgery to repair the heart. It has completely changed the outlook for people with ASD since this type of surgery has benefits that outweigh other options.
Minimally invasive surgery to repair ASD requires only mild anesthesia, involves less pain and has fewer postoperative complications than surgery and almost immediately leads to an improved quality of life.
Patients treated with this new approach are generally in the hospital for less than 24 hours. In addition, the previous surgical option involved a lengthy recovery period. Most patients can resume normal activities within one month of the procedure, but should avoid strenuous activity for at least that period.
Candidates and Risks
Candidates for this procedure, called "transcatheter closure" of an ASD must have had an echocardiogram that shows evidence of the ASD They must also have symptoms, such as leg swelling, fatigue and shortness of breath.For more information on this procedure, contact the New Jersey Heart Institute at 856-365-4072.
