An atrial septal defect is a congenital disability that involves holes in the septum. The septum is a muscular wall that separates the two uppermost chambers of the heart. When these ASDs are small, they do not need any treatment. However, when these holes are large, they need repair or surgery to lower the complications involved with it.

In this blog, we are going to discuss minimally invasive ASD surgery. But before that, let us discuss what exactly ASD is.

What are the different types of ASD?

 There are four main types of atrial septal defects. These defects are:

Secundum ASD

 It is the defect that arises in the middle of the septum. It is the most common type of atrial septum defect.

Primum ASD

 This defect occurs in the lower part of the atrial septum. Small babies generally suffer from this defect. This defect is very commonly linked to Down syndrome.

Sinus venous ASD

 It occurs in the upper part of the lower back part of the atrial septum. This type of defect is linked to the right pulmonary vein or large veins in the heart.

Unroofed Coronary Sinus

 It is the rarest form of ASD. It involves a missing or incomplete wall between the coronary sinus. It is a more complex form of ASD.

Symptoms Of ASD

 Even though ASD is present from birth, many people do not experience its symptoms till adulthood. The main symptoms of ASD in children include:

• Heart murmur
• Being underweight
• Growth delays
• Respiratory infections
• Trouble breathing
• Easily becoming fatigued

Symptoms of ASD in Adults

 Adults start to feel the symptoms by the age of 40 years. The symptoms in adults include:

• Fatigue
• Shortness of Breath
• Fast heartbeat
• Swelling in arms and legs
• Blue skin color

If you experience any of these symptoms, it is time you call your healthcare provider.

What are the causes behind ASD?

 The exact cause of ASD is not known. However, some factors can raise the risk of having a baby with ASD. These factors include:

• Alcohol Consumption
• Smoking tobacco
• Taking certain medicines

How is ASD Diagnosed?

 The tests to diagnose ASD include:

• ECG
• Chest X-ray
• THE
• TEE
• ICE

Treatment of ASD

 The Traditional Approach

 The standard way to repair ASD is traditional open heart surgery, in which the chest of the patient is opened, the heart is stopped temporarily, and the surgeon patches the hole in the septum.

This method, though highly successful, is an extensive procedure that has a long recovery time. It requires an incision in the breastbone, and a heart-lung machine is used to maintain the flow of blood circulation.

The procedure comes with many potential complications, like infection, scarring, bleeding, and long hospital stays.

The Minimally Invasive Revolution

In recent years, cardiac surgeons have started using minimally invasive techniques in repairing ASD. This approach uses small incisions and also does not require a heart-lung machine. There are two primary procedures followed in the minimally invasive approach to ASD surgery:

Transcatheter ASD Approach

It is the least invasive approach of the two approaches that we are going to discuss in this blog. It involves inserting a catheter through a small incision in the neck, guiding it to the heart. Using special tools and imaging, the surgeon then places an Amplatzer ( closing device) into the hole. Once the device is in position, it is released into the hole.

This method is mainly used to treat people who have small holes, and it also has a shorter recovery time. Patients can go home the same day.

Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery

 It is another minimally invasive approach to ASD surgery and has several advantages. In this method, a small incision is made between the ribs and a thoracoscope, and small surgical instruments are inserted to repair the hole. The surgeon sees the entire procedure on the monitor, and without stopping the heart, he patches the hole. It is a more suitable procedure for complex ASDs.

What are the benefits?

 The benefits of minimally invasive ASD surgery

• Minimal Scarring: Minimally invasive procedures result in smaller incisions and less postoperative pain. Recovery is often faster and less painful for patients.
• Hospital Stays Are Shorter: Many patients who undergo minimally invasive procedures can go home within 24 hours or less after surgery.
• Recovery is faster: Less trauma to the body means patients can get back to work and daily activities sooner.
• Surgery Site Infections: Fewer incisions mean fewer surgical site infections, which are potential complications.
• Reduced Blood Loss: Minimally invasive techniques usually result in less blood loss during surgery, so you don’t need to get transfused.
• Better Cosmetics: Patients love smaller scars and less visible signs of surgery, which improves their self-esteem and body image.

The evolution of cardiac surgery towards a minimally invasive approach represents a significant improvement when it comes to the repair of congenital disabilities. People can now benefit from these surgeries as they have better outcomes and also give improved life quality to the people. ASD can now be treated better with a minimally invasive approach. The growing trend towards minimally invasive options is no doubt a positive development in the field of cardiac surgery.