Atrial septal defect repairAtrial septal defects (ASD) occur in 4 to 10 percent of all people born with congenital heart disease. An atrial septal defect is a congenital opening in the atrial septum, or dividing wall between the two upper chambers of the heart known as the right and left atria.
When blood passes through the ASD from the left atrium to the right atrium, a larger volume of blood than normal must be handled by the right side of the heart. Extra blood then passes through the pulmonary artery into the lungs, causing higher pressure than normal in the blood vessels in the lungs. This heart defect can cause lung problems if not repaired. (click here for a full desciption of ASD)
Many ASDs are detected and repaired upon diagnosis in children, but often symptoms go unnoticed until adulthood. Treaments may include medical management, infection control and surgical repair. Traditional surgical treatment involves opening the chest of the patient along the sternum to repair the ASD, resulting in a large scar and a lengthy recovery time. With the advent of minimally-invasive robotic surgery, however, a new approach to ASD repair became available resulting in less trauma, less pain and faster recovery.
Saint Joseph's Center for Robotic Surgery offers this novel approach to ASD repair through the use of the da Vinci Surgical System. For the clinically appropriate patient, da Vinci ASD repair offers a number of potential benefits, including:
- Less post-operative pain
- Less risk of infection
- Less anesthesia
- Less blood loss
- Shorter hospital stay
- Faster and more complete recovery
- Quicker return to normal daily activities
For more information about robotic surgery, call 1-866-SJ-ROBOT (1-866-757-6268).
For more information about Saint Joseph's Center for Heart & Vascular Care, call 404-851-5111.
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