treatment
ASD (Atrial septal defect) closure
An atrial septal defect is a congenital abnormality of the tissue separating the atria (top chambers of the heart). There are various forms and not all ASD’s require treatment. In appropriate cases Prof. Shand may recommend percutaneous (minimally invasive) closure. In rare cases, patients with more complex ASD’s may require open heart surgery for repair.
How did I not know about this problem until now?
In more complex cases, an ASD (and associated abnormalities) may be diagnosed in infancy. However, many patients with an ASD are picked up incidentally as they may cause no or minimal symptoms until later in life.
Does my ASD need treatment?
Not all ASD’s require treatment. Generally speaking the treatment of choice is minimally invasive device closure or occasionally open heart surgery. Decision making is centred around the impact the ASD is likely to have on long term heart function, anatomy of the ASD and associated abnormalities as well as whether there is a history of stroke or paradoxical embolism (blot clot moving through the ASD into the body’s arterial circulation).
