An ASD is a hole in the wall (called the septum) that separates the two upper chambers of your heart—the left and right atria. Normally, blood flows through the heart in a specific direction, but an ASD allows blood to pass abnormally between these chambers.
This extra blood flow can overwork the right side of your heart and lungs, leading to symptoms such as fatigue, breathlessness, and—in the long term—heart rhythm problems, high pulmonary artery pressures or even reduced heart function.
Depending on your condition, your cardiologist may also recommend:
Using imaging guidance, your cardiologist will thread a thin catheter through your blood vessels to reach the heart. A specially designed device called a septal occluder is then delivered through the catheter and positioned to seal the hole. This device acts like a plug and stays in place permanently.
Once the device is correctly positioned, the catheter is removed, and the entry site is closed.
