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CLINICAL SERVICES>SURGICAL CORRECTIONS >ACYANOTIC DEFECTS (PINK BABIES)

Atrial Septal Defect (ASD)

The Atrial Septum is a wall separating both upper cham- bers of the heart (The Atria) and an Atrial Septal Defect is nothing but a hole in this wall. Some of the purified blood from the left side flows back to the right through this hole, increasing the amount of blood pumped to the lungs. Most of these children are asymptomatic, some of them may suffer from recurrent chest infections. Certain types of ASD’s ( secundum ) can be non surgically closed with special devices ( DEVICE CLOSURE ). The other unsuitable cases are closed with patches ( pericardial or Teflon ) by open-heart surgery.

Defects

CLINICAL SERVICES>SURGICAL CORRECTIONS> ACYANOTIC DEFECTS (PINK BABIES)

Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)

If this Ductus Arteriosus continues to persist after birth, it is called a Patent Ductus Arteriosus. Some of the pure blood from the Aorta now flows back in to the pulmonary Artery through this connection. The need for treatment weeks of birth, depends on size of this communicating vessel and the resultant onslaught on the heart and lung. Small PDA's are routinely closed in our cardiac catheterization labora- tories, by the insertion of specially designed Occluders ( COIL OCCLUSION ). However in a small percentage unsuitable for this procedure (like in premature neonates or large and short communications) surgically closure under direct vision is an alternative.

Defects

Normal Heart

The human heart has four chambers; the right upper chamber re ceives the impure blood from the body, which is then pumped into the lungs by the right lower chamber. The blood purified by the lungs now returns to the left upper chamber and is pumped to rest of the body by the left lower chamber. The vessel that carries the impure blood from the right side to the lungs is called the Pulmonary Artery and the vessel carrying the pure blood to the body from the left side is called the Aorta. In an unborn child inside the mother’s womb, there is a connection between these two vessels called the Ductus Aretriosus as the baby’s lungs are not breathing air. Normally shortly after birth this connection disappears as the lungs start breathing air.

CLINICAL SERVICES>SURGICAL CORRECTIONS> ACYANOTIC DEFECTS (PINK BABIES)

Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD)

The Ventricular Septum is the wall that separates the lower two muscular chambers of the heart. A hole in this wall is called a Ventricular Septal Defect. Through this hole, blood from the left is forced to the right side each time the heart beats, thereby increasing the amount of blood entering the lungs. Also the right lower chamber (Ventricle) has to work a lot harder to pump this extra blood over and over again. Some small VSD’s usually close within one year of birth. The need for surgical closure usually depends on the size of the hole and the resultant onslaught on the heart and lungs.

Defects

CLINICAL SERVICES>SURGICAL CORRECTIONS> ACYANOTIC DEFECTS (PINK BABIES)

Coarctation of Aorta

Coarctation Of Aorta is a condition where there is a constriction in a segment of this vessel limiting the free flow of blood to the body. The left side of the heart also has to work a lot harder to pump the blood across this constricted segment and may over a period of time fail. Depending on the location and severity of the constriction, it can either be opened with a balloon (Balloon Angioplasty) or require surgical correction.

Defects

CLINICAL SERVICES>SURGICAL CORRECTIONS> ACYANOTIC DEFECTS (PINK BABIES)

Aortic Stenosis (AS)

Any narrowing of this segment is called Aortic Stenosis and it can occur either at the valve or a little above or below it. The left side of the heart has to work a lot harder to pump the blood across this constricted segment and may over a period of time fail. Depending on the severity of the constriction, it can either be opened with a balloon (Balloon Angioplasty) or require surgical correction and in extreme cases even replacement.

Defects

Normal Heart

The human heart has four chambers; the right upper chamber receives the impure blood from the body, which is then pumped into the lungs by the right lower chamber. The blood purified by the lungs now returns to the left upper chamber and is pumped to rest of the body by the left lower chamber. The vessel that carries the impure blood from the right side to the lungs is called the Pulmonary Artery and the vessel carrying the pure blood to the body from the left side is called the Aorta. The Aortic valve is present in the very beginning of the Aorta and its main function is to prevent the blood pumped into the vessel from flowing back into the heart.

CLINICAL SERVICES> SURGICAL CORRECTIONS > ACYANOTIC DEFECTS
(PINK BABIES)

Pulmonary Stenosis (PS)

Narrowing of the Pulmonary Valve is called Pulmonary Stenosis. The right side of the heart has to work a lot harder to pump the blood across this narrowed valve and may over a period of time fail. Depending on the severity of the constriction, it can either be opened with a balloon (Balloon Angioplasty) or require surgical correction.

Defects

Normal Heart

The human heart has four chambers; the right upper chamber receives the impure blood from the body, which is then pumped into the lungs by the right lower chamber. The blood purified by the lungs now returns to the left upper chamber and is pumped to rest of the body by the left lower chamber. The vessel that carries the pure blood to the body from the left side is called the Aorta and the vessel carrying the impure blood from the right side to the lungs is called the Pulmonary Artery. The Pulmonary valve is present in the very beginning of the Pulmonary Artery and its main function is to prevent the blood pumped into the vessel from flowing back into the heart.

CLINICAL SERVICES >SURGICAL CORRECTIONS>ACYANOTIC DEFECTS (PINK BABIES)

AP Window

As the fetus develops failure of these vessels to separate completely due to defective embryogenesis leaves an early communication between them both forming an Aorto-Pulmonary Window (A.P Window). This causes enormous mixing of pure blood from the Aorta with the impure blood in the Pulmonary Artery thereby greatly increasing the amount of blood entering the lungs. It is a very rare condition which needs early repair by open heart surgery, as very high pressures develop in the lungs rapidly and closure becomes impossible.

Defects

Normal Heart

The human heart has four chambers; the right upper chamber receives the impure blood from the body, which is then pumped into the lungs by the right lower chamber. The blood purified by the lungs now returns to the left upper chamber and is pumped to rest of the body by the left lower chamber. The vessel that carries the impure blood from the right lower chamber to the lungs is called the Pulmonary Artery and the vessel carrying the pure blood to the entire body from the left lower chamber is called the Aorta. Early in the development of the heart, both these vessels i.e the Aorta and the Pulmonary Artery were together as a single vessel.