What is ASD/PSD?

Atrial septal defect (ASD) and Ventricular Septal Defects (VSD) are heart abnormalities generally present from birth (congenital heart defects). These are abnormal openings in the heart that didn’t close during development or after birth.

What is PDA?

Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) – It is an abnormal connection between two major arteries of the heart named the Aorta and Pulmonary artery. Depending on the size of the opening, it is not uncommon for these conditions to go for many years or decades without being noticed. However, in some cases, they can cause stress on the heart and result in symptoms such as breathlessness, stroke, or abnormal heart enlargement.

All these defects allow blood to pass from the left side of the heart to the right side, which is abnormal and increases the load on the heart.

What is Device Closure Procedure?

The device closure procedure used as a reparative surgery is known as transcatheter closure, although it is done for a reparable hole and this is not the only treatment for hole closures. When compared to other surgeries, it is a less invasive surgery.

Why is a cardiac closure device used?

• Repairing Abnormal Heart Openings: One of the primary purposes of a cardiac closure device is to mend irregular openings in the heart, notably ASDs. These openings, characteristic of congenital heart defects, create a hole in the septum, the heart’s upper chamber divider. This hole allows oxygen-rich blood to mix with oxygen-poor blood, disturbing the heart’s usual operation.
• Restoring Natural Blood Flow: By employing a cardiac closure device, medical professionals can reestablish the heart’s typical blood flow pattern. This ensures that oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor blood don’t mix, which is crucial for maintaining the heart’s overall health and performance.
• Minimizing Long-Term Complications: The use of a cardiac closure device is instrumental in reducing the risk of enduring heart and lung problems resulting from untreated ASDs. Such complications might encompass heart enlargement, irregular heart rhythms, and pulmonary hypertension.

How it is performed?

There are many different types of angiographies, depending on which part of the body is being looked at. Common types of angiographies include:

• Kartik Bhosale has expertise in performing the device closure procedure. Before the surgery starts, a patient is administered IV and intravenous medicines are started. The person has leads attached to his chest for ECG.
• CT Coronary Angiography: CT angiography or computed tomography is an X-ray technology to create high-resolution, 3-D images of your heart. A CT coronary angiography is one type of cardiac CT, concentrating on the arteries that supply the blood to your heart muscle.
• The person’s groin/arm area is cleaned and a plastic thin tube called a catheter will be inserted through that area. Meanwhile, the patient is given sedatives for relaxation purposes and local anesthesia, but they will be awake and conscious throughout the procedure.
• After the size of the hole is determined, a special catheter is administered in the arteries which carry a small metallic mesh-like closing device.
• This device is then fitted in the hole and then released by the catheter. This catheter is then taken out, eventually, heart tissue develops on the closure device, thus making it a part of the heart itself.

What are the advantages of an ASD closure device?

• Gentler Approach: One of the key advantages lies in the gentle nature of the procedure. It doesn’t involve open-heart surgery, which translates to smaller incisions, less discomfort, and a speedier recovery.
• Less Time in the Hospital: Patients usually enjoy shorter hospital stays when opting for ASD closure with a device. Often, they can head home within a day or two post-procedure.
• Reduced Risks: Minimally invasive methods like ASD closure come with fewer risks and complications compared to the traditional open-heart surgery. This makes it a safer choice, particularly for older adults and those dealing with other medical conditions.
• Faster Recovery: The recovery process following ASD closure is typically swift. Most patients can get back to their regular routines and jobs in a relatively short time, often within days or a few weeks.
• Enhanced Aesthetics: The smaller incisions and minimal scarring linked to closure devices bring an aesthetic advantage. With less visible scarring, patients can enjoy a more cosmetically pleasing outcome compared to open-heart surgery.
• Efficient Closure: ASD closure devices offer an effective and lasting solution to seal the defect, halting the improper mixing of blood and reinstating proper heart function.