A pacemaker is a small, battery operated device. Cardiologist implants pacemaker in the chest to manage or control irregular heartbeats or abnormal heart rhythms. Pacemaker is used to treat arrhythmias. In arrhythmias heart beats too fast, too slow or with irregular rhythms. It sends signal to the heart to beat at a normal rate.
There are now various grades of pacemaker
Various diseases like holes in the heart can now be treated with device through a small tube in groin and don’t require major cardiac surgery.
Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) is a type of congenital heart disease in children. The septum is the wall between the heart’s upper chambers. In ASD disease there is a hole in the septum. ASD occurs due to the non formation of baby’s wall properly during pregnancy.
In Atrial Septal Defect (ASD), blood passes from the left side of the heart to the right side of the heart and oxygenated blood mix with non oxygenated blood. Hence oxygenated blood is pumped to the lungs instead of body by heart.
Facts of Atrial Septal Defects (ASD):
Causes of Atrial Septal Defects (ASD):
Symptoms of Atrial Septal Defects (ASD):
Diagnosis of Atrial septal Defects (ASD):
Atrial Septal Defects (ASD) treatment:
Treatment option for ASD is depend on child’s age, size, location and severity of defect.
Very small ASDs do not need any treatment. Some children need only medicines to cure ASD. Cardiologist suggests follow up visits for observation. Cardiologist prescribes medication which includes Digoxin and Diuretics.
If ASD is not closed on its own as the child’s age increases or by medication then In this case the cardiologist recommends fixing the hole either with cardiac catheterization or heart surgery.
Pediatric Device Closure by cardiac catheterization:
Cardiac catheterization is very safe procedure and performed by an expert Cardiologist only. Most of the children who undergo device closure of ASD spend one night in the hospital and get discharge on the next day. Child can start their daily activities after the rest of one week.
Similarly VSD which is a gap in the septum between the two ventricles of heart can be treated with a device.
Also PDA which means patent ductus arteriosus, which is a patent connection between aorta and pulmonary artery can also be treated with a device. This connection usually closes in first week after birth. But sometimes it does not and hence causes increases blood flowing to lungs. This can now be treated with a device even in infants.