How to treat atrial septal defect

Atrial septal defect (ASD) is a common congenital heart disease. Interventional closure is the first choice of treatment, followed by thoracotomy repair. Transcatheter closure and surgical repair can also be selected. Atrial septal defect (ASD) is one of the most common congenital heart diseases, accounting for about 20%~30% of the total number of congenital heart diseases. Secondary ASD is the most common type of ASD, accounting for about 75%~80% of the total number of ASD. The treatment of secondary ASD mainly includes the following methods: 1. Interventional occlusion: The occluder is delivered to the atrial septal defect through the femoral vein or jugular vein to occlude the defect. This method has the advantages of less trauma, rapid recovery and no need for thoracotomy. It is one of the preferred methods for treating secondary atrial septal defect at present. 2. Thoracotomy repair: A small incision is made in the chest to separate the tissue around the defect and then suture it directly or repair it with a patch. This method is suitable for patients with large defects, other cardiac malformations, or other contraindications for surgery. 3. Transcatheter closure: A method in which an occluder is delivered to the atrial septal defect through a catheter under X-ray fluoroscopy. The method has the advantages of less trauma, faster recovery, etc., but it needs to be performed under general anesthesia, and the cost is higher. 4. Surgical repair: Through a median sternotomy or a small chest incision, the tissue around the defect is separated, and then directly sutured or repaired with patches. This method is suitable for patients with large defects, other cardiac malformations or other surgical contraindications. It should be noted that the treatment of atrial septal defect should be selected according to the specific conditions of the patient, including the size of the defect, location, and associated cardiac abnormalities. At the same time, patients should be reviewed regularly after treatment to ensure the recovery of cardiac function. For the treatment of atrial septal defect, it is recommended that patients choose under the guidance of doctors, and follow the doctor's recommendations for treatment and postoperative management. At the same time, patients and family members should also actively cooperate with the doctor's treatment, maintain a good mentality, and promote the patient's early recovery.