An atrial septal defect (ASD) closure is a minimally invasive procedure to repair a hole between two chambers of the heart.
What is an atrial septal defect closure?
An atrial septal defect (ASD) closure is a minimally invasive procedure performed to repair a hole between two chambers of the heart.
The procedure is done by inserting a small flexible tube called a catheter into a blood vessel. Your doctor gains access to this vessel through your groin and the catheter is threaded through the vessel into your heart. X-ray machines and ultrasound are used to help guide the doctor as they are threading the catheter.
Where would I undergo an ASD closure and what is involved in the process?
In Fraser Health, the hospital which provides this service is Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster.
If you have an atrial septal defect, you will be referred by your cardiologist to a specialist in interventional cardiology to be evaluated for the ASD closure procedure. The interventional cardiologist will provide you with specific preparation instructions for this procedure at that time. The procedure takes approximately one to two hours and is performed under general anesthesia.
After an ASD closure procedure, a patient is usually discharged on the same day, however, this can vary according to the needs of the individual patient. You will be provided with discharge instructions before you go home.