by targetmarket | Apr 15, 2024 | Atrial Septal Defect Repairs
Atrial septal defect (ASD) is a congenital heart defect. If you have ASD, you were born with a hole between the upper chambers of your heart. This hole may cause higher levels of blood to go through the lungs. Known as one of the most common congenital heart defects in children, ASD affects more than 2,000 babies each year. Here at Minimally Invasive and Bloodless Heart Surgery with Dr. Ciuffo, we will explore the types, symptoms, and causes of an atrial septal defect, along with their complications and treatments. Types of ASDs There are a number of ASDs, including: Secundum: Secundum is the most common type of atrial septal defect. It arises in the atrial septum, the wall between the upper heart chambers. Primum: Primum occurs in the lower part of the wall, which is located between the upper heart chambers. It may present itself with other heart issues at birth. Sinus venosus: Sinus venosus is a rare form of ASD. It appears in the upper part of the wall, between the heart chambers, typically with other heart structure changes at birth. Coronary sinus: Coronary sinus refers to the vein system of the heart. It’s also rare and occurs when part of the wall between the part of the vein system of the heart is missing. Symptoms Of ASD It’s not uncommon for a baby with ASD to be asymptomatic. Oftentimes, symptoms begin when an individual reaches adulthood and may include: Shortness of breath, especially during physical activity Fatigue Arrhythmias or irregular heartbeats Swelling in the legs, feet, or belly Palpitations Causes Of ASD At this time, the cause... by DrCiuffo | Apr 3, 2015 | Atrial Septal Defect Repairs, Blog, Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery
Sometimes, in close groups of friends and small town media outlets we hear about babies and young children with a hole in their heart. This is known as an Atrial Septal Defect (ASD). What you may not realize is this is more common than you think. Every six out of 1,000 are born with an ASD. ASD causes a hole through the wall that normally separates the right side of the heart from the left. The right side of the heart receives blood from the body and pumps it into the lungs to re-oxygenate it. The left side receives that oxygenated blood from the lungs and pumps in out to the rest of the body. ASD causes a portion of the oxygenated blood to flow back into the right side of the heart instead of going out to the rest of the body. The right side works harder to fix the problem, but can cause the lungs to flood creating trouble breathing. In worst case scenarios, this respiratory distress can cause malnourishment as they are not able to be fed fully, as well as other serious heart conditions. Usually, babies are born with small ASDs that close on their own as the child grows. Even for medium to large ASDs, symptoms are sometimes not obvious. Doctors can usually diagnose an atrial septal defect later in life when a heart murmur is noted during a routine checkup. Treating The Hole In The Heart Parents and patients have a few different options when it comes to treating ASD. Surgical Therapy – For severe ASD, we recommend minimally invasive atrial septal defect...
