Welcome to ASD Survivors.

The goal of this website is to help and provide support to people who have been diagnosed with ASD and those that have taken the necessary course of action to close the ASD, along with the families and friends of ASD patients.

Atrial septal defect (ASD) is a defect in the septum between the heart’s two upper chambers (atria). The septum is a wall that separates the heart’s left and right sides. Everyone is born with an opening between the upper heart chambers called the foramen ovale. It’s a normal opening that exists in the fetus before it is born which allows blood to detour away from the lungs before birth. After birth, the opening is no longer needed and usually closes or becomes very small within several weeks or months. Sometimes this opening is larger than normal and doesn’t close after birth as is the case with me. Many babies born with atrial septal defects don't have signs or symptoms. In adults, signs or symptoms usually begin by age 30, but in some cases signs and symptoms may not occur until decades later.

Rate of occurrence. 4 out of 100,000 or 0.004% newborns annually has Atrial Septal Defect.

Professional Athletes, amateur athletes and an actress' experience with ASD
http://www.asdsurvivors.org/forum/topics/websites-detailing

Treatment options assuming closure is required:

1) Least invasive 30 minute catheterization procedure is done percutaneously (through the skin). The device is attached to a catheter, which is inserted into a vein in the groin and advanced to the heart and through the defect, guided by X-ray and intracardiac echo. As the device is slowly pushed out of the catheter, it opens up to cover each edge of the defect, sealing it closed. Over time, tissue grows over the implant and it becomes part of the heart. This procedure requires patients to be on blood thinners for approximately six months.
Some helpful links
http://www.asdsurvivors.org/forum/topics/helpful-websites-on-cardiac

2) Robotic Heart open heart surgery is a less invasive alternative to open heart surgery. This procedure is still open heart surgery but the surgeon will not need to crack you open. Instead, he will make a few incisions between the ribs on the right side of the body and operate robotically through those incisions. To be clear, long-term survival after repair of this defect is similar to that of a healthy person of the same age. During the operation, the surgeon will use a specially-designed computer console (Da Vinci) to control surgical instruments on thin robotic arms. Robotically-assisted technology allows surgeons to perform certain types of complex heart surgeries with smaller incisions and precise motion control, offering patients improved outcomes. The risk of surgery is minimal (mortality<0.01%, risk of stroke <1%). The heart is stopped for the surgery (cardiopulmonary bypass and cardioplegia), and a heart-lung machine oxygenates the blood and circulates it throughout the body for approximately 30 to 40 minutes. The defect is then closed with your own pericardium (the membrane that surrounds and protects the heart). Once the procedure is completed, the heart is restarted. When the surgical team is satisfied that the heart is beating strongly again, the heart-lung machine is disconnected. The rib incisions are then closed. The operation typically takes 4 hrs to perform, and requires 2-4 day long hospital stay.
Helpful links related to Robotic Heart Surgery
http://www.asdsurvivors.org/forum/topics/helpful-links-on-asd-closure


3) Regular way open heart surgery the old fashion way.

Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO)

There is additional information and support for members with PFOs (Patent Foramen Ovale) on this site under the groups section.

http://www.asdsurvivors.org/group/asdatrialseptaldefectandpfopatentforamenovale

Disclaimer
This site is not intended to diagnose, prescribe, or replace the service of your physician, but solely to give you information to help enable you to make informed decisions about your healthcare with guidance of healthcare professionals.