Congenital Heart Defects:
- ASD (Atrial Septal Defect):
- This is a hole in the wall (septum) between the two upper chambers of the heart (atria).
- It allows oxygen-rich blood to mix with oxygen-poor blood, which can strain the heart and lungs.
- Repairs can involve:
- Device closure (catheter-based procedure).
- Surgical repair (open-heart surgery).
- VSD (Ventricular Septal Defect):
- This is a hole in the wall (septum) between the two lower chambers of the heart (ventricles).
- It also causes mixing of oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor blood.
- Repairs typically involve:
- Surgical repair (open-heart surgery).
- In select cases, device closure.
- PDA (Patent Ductus Arteriosus):
- This is a persistent opening between the aorta and the pulmonary artery.
- Normally, this opening closes shortly after birth.
- If it remains open, it can lead to heart and lung problems.
- Repairs can involve:
- Device closure (catheter-based procedure).
- Surgical ligation (tying off the opening).
Mitral Valve Repairs:
- Mitral Valve Issues:
- The mitral valve controls blood flow between the left atrium and left ventricle.
- Problems can include:
- Mitral regurgitation (leaking).
- Mitral stenosis (narrowing).
- Mitral Valve Repairs:
- These procedures aim to restore proper valve function.
- Options include:
- Mitral valve repair (preferable when possible).
- Mitral valve replacement (using a mechanical or biological valve).
- These procedures can be done via open heart surgery, or in some cases, via minimally invasive procedures.
Key Considerations:
- The best treatment approach depends on the specific condition, its severity, and the patient’s overall health.
- Advances in medical technology have led to less invasive options for many of these conditions.
- It is very important that these procedures are performed by experienced cardiac surgeons and interventional cardiologists.