“My son has a hole in the heart. What is the treatment procedure?”
My son is 7 years old and has been detected with a hole in the heart. What is the treatment suggested to rectify the same? Will the condition be solved permanently after the surgery or can the hole reappear?
7 Answers
Depending on the location of the hole in the heart some close by themselves and some require surgery or procedures to close them. Please consult your cardiologist.
The surgeon will place a patch to seal the hole. It should last a long time
The hole needs to be closed either through a catheter threaded to the heart or by open heart surgery.
A hole in the heart is called PFO (patent foramen ovale), which is quite common, often present in about 10% of the population and usually clinically insignificant with no symptoms requiring no treatment. However, a larger hole is called an ASD (Atrial Septal Defect), which will require closure. The size of the hole and the difference in pressure between the right and left side of the heart will dictate if a procedure is needed to close this. This information can be obtained by an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). A small ASD can sometimes be treated by a small closure device done without major surgery while a larger hole will require open heart surgery. It is rare for this to recur after open heart surgery and the former procedure may have a small rate of recurrence as it is a relatively newer technique that is used.
Juan P. Montoya
Cardiothoracic Surgeon
Typically, heart defects such as this need to be corrected with surgery.
Either surgery or patching in cath lab
Not sure where the hole in the heart is, but most of reasonable size and sufficient flow usually require closure with interventional techniques or surgery. Your son should see a pediatric cardiologist who will do appropriate testing and recommend the desired treatment. It should take care of his problem.
