Structural Heart Disease Treatment
The term structural heart disease treatment generally encompasses both congenital heart defects and abnormalities usually of the valves that develop later in life. The two common congenital defects that are treated by minimally invasive approach through catheters in the groin are atrial septal defect (ASD) and patent foramen ovale (PFO). These are both holes in between the two upper chambers of the heart.
The usual reasons to close these defects are stroke or mini-stroke and shortness of breath.
The closure involves putting in a catheter through the groin in the vein. A device, usually a mesh disc, is then inserted to cover the hole. Both ultrsound and Xray are used to guide proper placement. At the end of the procedure the catheter is removed. As time progresses, scar tissue grows over the mesh and closes the hole completely. The patient may be discharge the same or the next day.