Sometimes referred to as a hole in the heart, ASD is a heart defect in which there is an abnormal opening in the wall between the left and right atria (upper chambers) of the heart.
ASDs account for 5 to 10 percent of all coronary heart disease, and common symptoms include:
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Exercise intolerance
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Fatigue
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Lung problems such as pneumonia
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Poor appetite
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Shortness of breath
If ASDs go untreated, health problems can arise later in life, including atrial arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm) and issues with how well the heart pumps blood. Once a diagnosis of ASD has been confirmed, treatment is dependent upon the size, location, and severity of the defect. ASDs can typically be closed using cardiac catheterization, but surgery is sometimes required.
Successful Outcomes
A busy mom of three, Suzanne Lapp was diagnosed with ASD in 2010. In October, Mubashir Mumtaz, MD, FACS, chief of cardiothoracic surgery at PinnacleHealth, PinnacleHealth Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery, performed robotic surgery on Suzanne to treat her condition.
“The staff at PinnacleHealth explained everything to me prior to the surgery,” says Suzanne. “I really liked Dr. Mumtaz as a doctor. I felt very informed and was impressed with everything. I’m well on my way to recovery, and I’m feeling great.”
For more information about robotic heart surgery and other heart surgeries at PinnacleHealth, join us for a presentation, “Leaky Plumbing and Rusted Pipes: Common Heart Conditions and the Latest Treatments,” by Dr. Mumtaz on Thursday, February 9, at the GIANT in Camp Hill. Call (717) 231-8900 to reserve your seat.