Heart Hole Surgery :
(Atrial or Ventricular Septal Defect Repair)

Heart hole surgery is a procedure to repair congenital heart defects known as Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) or Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD). These defects are holes in the walls (septa) separating the heart's chambers, allowing abnormal blood flow.

Types of Heart Hole Defects :

1. Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) – A hole in the wall between the two upper chambers (atria).
2. Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) – A hole in the wall between the two lower chambers (ventricles).

Treatment Options :

1. Minimally Invasive Catheter - Based Repair – A device is placed through a catheter to close the hole (suitable for some ASDs and VSDs).
2. Open-Heart Surgery – The hole is closed using stitches or a patch, usually for larger or more complex defects.

Symptoms of a Heart Hole :

• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Heart murmur
• Poor weight gain in infants
• Frequent respiratory infections

Risks of Leaving It Untreated :

• Heart failure
• Pulmonary hypertension
• Stroke
• Irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmia)