Septal defects are holes that develop in the wall between the heart\’s left-sided chambers and right-sided chambers. These holes form while a baby is developing in the womb. In many cases, they do not require treatment after the baby is born. The holes are either small enough to present no serious symptoms, or they close on their own as the child grows. Other times, they can cause side effects that threaten to lower the child\’s quality of life, especially in later years. These cases warrant treatment.

In this article, we\’ll first explain how a properly-functioning heart works to better demonstrate how septal defects can affect it. We\’ll then describe how the holes are repaired.

How A Normal Heart Functions

Blood returns to the heart from every area of the body. When it arrives, it is depleted of oxygen. It flows into the top chamber (atrium) on the right side, and then moves to the bottom chamber (ventricle) on the same side. From there, the blood flows to the lungs, which replenish it with oxygen.

Supplied with a new store of oxygen, the blood moves the left atrium, which sends it to the left ventricle. It then leaves the heart, carrying oxygen to the body.

Throughout this process, the blood on the right side of the heart (depleted of oxygen) is separated from the blood on the left side (newly-enriched with oxygen). The wall that separates the sides is called the septum. A hole between the top chambers is known as an atrial septal defect (ASD). A hole between the bottom chambers is known as a ventricular septal defect (VSD). Regardless of its location, it can cause a variety of symptoms. A large hole can even be life-threatening.

Many doctors prefer to monitor small septal defects rather than immediately treating them. The reason, as mentioned earlier, is that the holes often close by themselves. That said, larger ASDs and VSDs usually require medical or surgical intervention.

Beta Blockers To Lower Blood Pressure

Moderate to severe septal defects often cause higher-than-normal blood pressure. This is because the heart must work harder to push enough oxygen-rich blood to the body. A class of drugs known as beta blockers may be given to reduce the pace and force of the heart\’s contractions, thereby reducing pressure. These medications also dilate the blood vessels, allowing more blood to flow through them. That way, the heart is able to push more oxygen-rich blood to the body without needing to pump harder or faster in order to do it.

If medications have been deemed necessary, the ASD or VSD usually requires further intervention. The drugs are used to stabilize the patient rather than curing the problem causing the high blood pressure.

Cardiac Catheterization With Patch Placement

Catheterization is used to correct holes between the atria rather than holes between the ventricles. The latter are more difficult to reach with a catheter. The patient is given a general anesthesia to induce sleep. The catheter is then introduced into a vein near the groin, and directed toward the heart. The doctor threads the instrument along the vena cava, which empties into the right atrium.

The catheter contains a small patch that is used to \”plug\” the hole in the septum. After the instrument has arrived in the atrium and been positioned near the defect, the patch is deployed. Then, the catheter is extracted. The tissue of the septum grows into the patch over the subsequent months, holding it in place.

Open Heart Surgery To Repair The Hole

Sometimes, ASDs form near the top or bottom of the septum rather than the middle. Their location makes them more difficult to treat successfully through catheterization. Open heart surgery is usually necessary, an approach used to correct most ventricular septal defects. A special machine called a cardiopulmonary bypass is used to assume the heart\’s function during the operation.

After the patient has been given a general anesthesia, the surgeon makes an incision into the chest. The hole is located, and a patch is placed directly onto it.

Many people with small septal defects never develop symptoms, and thus treatment is unnecessary. Those with larger holes in their hearts, whether between the atria or ventricles, will eventually require intervention.

CVTSA is a leading cardiac surgery center in the US. The atrial Maze procedure is a leading technique for atrial fibrillation treatment.

CVTSA is a leading http://www.cvtsa.com/ cardiac surgery center in the US. The http://cvtsa.com/AtrialFibrillation/C-525.html atrial Maze procedure is a leading technique for atrial fibrillation treatment.

Author Bio: CVTSA is a leading cardiac surgery center in the US. The atrial Maze procedure is a leading technique for atrial fibrillation treatment.

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