Atrial Septal Defect Surgery Cost in Gurgaon

Generally an ASD closes down with time, but if this does not happen, the resultant excess blood flow may lead to complications. Known indications are

• Failure of the right side of the heart - This occurs because with time the right side of the heart is overworking itself, in the effort to pump more blood to the lungs, thus it tires and stops functioning effectively.
• Arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats) - The extra blood which flows into the right upper chamber of the heart, may result in the stretching and enlargement of the atrium (singular for atria) over time, thus causing Arrhythmias.
• Stroke- The lungs at times filters out blood clots, these clots travel to the heart, and may pass from the right chamber to the left chamber through the ASD. If the blood clot gets pumped into the body, it can cause a stroke.
• Pulmonary hypertension (high pressure in the pulmonary arteries)

Measures taken before the surgery

• Physical checkup of the patient is done
• Imaging studies are done
   

ASD surgery is generally performed by an experienced cardiac surgeon under general anesthesia. 

• Trans Catheter procedure - A thin flexible tube, called the catheter is inserted in the body, via the groin. The doctor through echocardiography (use of sound waves to create a moving image of the heart) and angiography (uses dye and x-rays to highlight coronary arteries), guides the tube towards the heart. Once it reaches there the tube blocks the hole, and the catheter is withdrawn.
• An open heart surgery is generally performed to correct primum ASD (a hole in the lower region of the atrial septum) and sinus venosus ASD (a hole in the upper part of the atrial septum). An incision is made in the chest, to reach the heart. A special patch is used to block the hole. A heart - lung bypass machine supports the patient all throughout the procedure.

In most cases, the recovery is rapid after the surgery. Within the first or second day post-surgery, the patient is transferred from intensive care (ICU) to general care.

The drainage tubes are removed the very next morning after the surgery. Within a day or two the pacing wires are also removed. In case of irregular heartbeat, pacing wires may be used longer.

Most of the patients are discharged on the 3rd or 4th day after the surgery. Patients are advised not to consume aspirin for about 6 months post the operation, to check thrombus formation (development of blood clots).

After the surgery care has to be taken, as not to injure the chest so that the incision can heal effectively. The patient’s movements at home should be carefully monitored for a few days post-surgery.

Complications after an ASD surgery

• Bleeding
• Infection
• Injury of the tricuspid, pulmonary or aortic valve
• Increase of pulmonary hypertension. It also includes low cardiac output
• Residual ASD