| Cardiac care has become a speciality in India They | | | | A sinus venosus ASD is a type of atrial septum |
| combine the latest innovations in medical electronics | | | | defect in which the defect in the septum involves the |
| with unmatched expertise in leading cardiologists and | | | | venous inflow of either the superior vena cava or the |
| cardo-thoracic surgeons. These centres have the | | | | inferior vena cava. A sinus venosus ASD that involves |
| distinction of providing comprehensive cardiac care | | | | the superior vena cava makes up 2 to 3% of all |
| spanning from basic facilities in preventive cardiology to | | | | intraatrial communications. It is located at the junction of |
| the most sophisticated curative technology. The | | | | the superior vena cava and the right atrium. It is |
| technology is contemporary and world class and the | | | | frequently associated with anomalous drainage of the |
| volumes handled match global benchmarks. They also | | | | right-sided pulmonary veins into the right atrium (instead |
| specialise in offering surgery to high risk patients with | | | | of the normal drainage of the pulmonary veins into the |
| the introduction of innovative techniques like minimally | | | | left atrium). |
| invasive and robotic surgery. Renowned Indian cardiac | | | | What does the surgical repair for Atrial Septal Defect |
| hospitals are equipped to handle all phases of heart | | | | involve? |
| diseases from the elementary to the latest clinical | | | | Atrial Septal Defect is most commonly closed by |
| procedures like interventional cardiac catherisation and | | | | open-heart surgery. Due to worsening of symptoms |
| surgical cardiac transplants. Their success rate at an | | | | with age, children suffering from atrial septal defect |
| average of 98.50% is at par with leading cardiac | | | | should be operated upon between 3 - 6 years of age. |
| centres around the world. Leading heart centres have | | | | The term open-heart surgery is used for surgical |
| cardiac care units with sophisticated equipment and | | | | procedures performed on the heart where the heart is |
| investigative facilities like echocardiography with | | | | stopped and is connected to a heart-lung machine, |
| coloured Doppler, nuclear scanning and coronary | | | | which oxygenates the blood and circulates it |
| angiography. | | | | throughout the body. The surgeon makes an incision in |
| What is an Atrial Septal Defect? | | | | the middle of the chest through the breast bone |
| The heart is divided into four separate chambers. The | | | | (sternotomy) to expose the heart. The heart is |
| upper chambers, or atria, are divided by a wall called | | | | stopped and its function is completely taken over by |
| the septum. An atrial septal defect (ASD) is a hole in | | | | the heart-lung machine. The atrial septal defect is either |
| that septum. Atrial septal defects are one of the most | | | | stitched (if small) or patched with a special mesh to |
| common heart defects seen. When an atrial septal | | | | close the hole. Once the procedure is complete, the |
| defect is present, blood flows through the hole primarily | | | | heart is re-started and the chest incision is sutured. The |
| from the left atrium to the right atrium. This shunting | | | | open-heart surgery to correct atrial septal defect is |
| increases the blood volume in the right atrium, which | | | | considered a major surgery and is performed under |
| means more blood flows through the lungs than would | | | | general anesthesia. |
| normally. If left untreated, atrial septal defect may | | | | After surgery of Atrial Septal Defect Surgery: |
| cause problems in adulthood. These problems may | | | | After ASD surgery, child will spend a few days in the |
| include pulmonary hypertension (which is high blood | | | | intensive care unit or in a regular hospital room. Most |
| pressure in the lungs), congestive heart failure | | | | children go home within 4 days after the surgery. While |
| (weakening of the heart muscle), atrial arrhythmias | | | | in the hospital, child will be given medicines to reduce |
| (which are abnormal rhythms or beating of the heart) | | | | pain or anxiety as needed. The doctors and nurses at |
| and an increased risk of stroke. | | | | the hospital will teach patient how to care for him at |
| What Causes an Atrial Septal Defect? | | | | home. |
| ASDs occur during a baby's development in the | | | | They will talk to patient about: |
| mother's womb and are present at birth. Before birth, | | | | ·Avoiding blows to the chest incision as it heals |
| the heart develops from a large tube, dividing into | | | | ·Limiting activity for patientr child while he or she |
| sections that will eventually become its walls and | | | | recovers |
| chambers. If a problem occurs during this process, a | | | | ·Bathing |
| hole in the wall that divides the left atrium from the right | | | | ·Returning to school |
| may result. For most people with an ASD, no one | | | | ·Scheduling follow-up appointments with patientr |
| knows exactly why it happens. In some cases, the | | | | child's doctors |
| tendency to develop an ASD may be inherited, or | | | | ·Administering medicine to patientr child at home, if |
| genetic. | | | | needed |
| Types of Atrial Septal Defects: | | | | Outcomes of Atrial Septal Defect Surgery: |
| There are many types of atrial septal defects. They | | | | Surgical closure of atrial septal defects is complication |
| are differentiated from each other by whether they | | | | free in over 99 percent of cases. Although the |
| involve other structures of the heart and how they are | | | | Amplatzer device has only been utilized for several |
| formed during the developmental process during early | | | | years, its success rate also appears to be very high. |
| fetal development. | | | | After ASD closure in childhood, the heart size returns |
| Ostium secundum Atrial Septal Defect: | | | | to normal over a period of four to six months. |
| The ostium secundum atrial septal defect is the most | | | | Following closure of an atrial septal defect, there |
| common type of atrial septal defect, and comprises | | | | should be no problems with physical activity and no |
| 6-10% of all congenital heart diseases. The secundum | | | | restrictions. Regular follow-up appointments will be |
| atrial septal defect usually arises from an enlarged | | | | made with a cardiologist. |
| foramen ovale, inadequate growth of the septum | | | | Why travel to India for Atrial Septal Defect Surgery: |
| secundum, or excessive absorption of the septum | | | | Cardiology in India is a well-developed field, with |
| primum. 10 to 20 percent of individuals with ostium | | | | treatments ranging from coronary angiography, |
| secundum ASDs also have mitral valve prolapse. | | | | angioplasty and bypass surgery to grafting being |
| Ostium primum Atrial Septal Defect: | | | | offered at the premier super specialty hospitals in India. |
| The ostium primum atrial septal defect (also known as | | | | They arrange and offer all such treatments at the |
| an endocardial cushion defect) is a defect in the atrial | | | | premier hospitals in India. The Cardiac Centers in India |
| septum at the level of the tricuspid and mitral valves. | | | | offers the latest in terms of cardiac treatments, |
| This is sometimes known as an endocardial cushion | | | | including surgery, medication and pre and postoperative |
| defect because it often involves the endocardial | | | | care. Apart from state of the art cardiac treatments, |
| cushion, which is the portion of the heart where the | | | | the hospitals also offer regular check ups to prevent |
| atrial septum meets the ventricular septum and the | | | | heart disease, or check the disease in the initial stages. |
| mitral valve meets the tricuspid valve. | | | | Heart disease is increasingly a bane of the Western |
| Endocardial cushion defects are associated with | | | | world, as well as developing countries, including India. |
| abnormalities of the atrioventricular valves (the mitral | | | | With changing dietary habits and sedentary lifestyles, |
| valve and the tricuspid valve). These include the cleft | | | | cardiac diseases now number among the leading |
| mitral valve, and the single atrioventricular valve (a | | | | causes of death of people worldwide. Keeping this in |
| single large, deformed valve that flows into both the | | | | mind we have tied with the leading Cardiac Centers of |
| right ventricle and the left ventricle). Endocardial cushion | | | | India to offer medical tourists facilities ranging from |
| defects are the most common congenital heart defect | | | | echocardiography, stress testing and holter monitoring |
| that is associated with Down's syndrome. | | | | to electrophysiological studies, arrhythmia ablation and |
| Sinus venosus Atrial Septal Defect: | | | | implantation of single and double chamber pacemakers. |