ASD (Atrial septal defect) and VSD (Ventricular septal defect) are congenital heart defects where an opening (hole) exists in the wall between the two heart chambers, atria and ventricles, respectively.
Depending on the size of hole, closure surgery may be advised.
PROCEDURE
It is performed under general anaesthesia, as an open-heart procedure with a chest incision. The hole is closed with stitches (a primary repair) or by using a mesh fabric patch (a secondary repair). Eventually, heart tissue grows around and over the patch, absorbing incorporating it into the muscle.
Another option is of a catheter-based technique. A long, thin tube (a catheter) is inserted into a blood vessel in the groin and guided to the area of the heart defect. Working through the catheter, the defect is closed using a closure device (umbrella shaped devices placed on right and left sides of the septum and attached to each other). After the device is in place, the catheter is withdrawn.
DURATION
The procedure may take 2-4 hours. Hospital stay is of 10-14 days.
RECOVERY
Normal activity may be resumed in 3-4 weeks.
RISKS
- Infection
- Arrhythmia
- Bleeding
- Inadequate closure of hole