small ASD (8mm) - pros/cons of closing v not

[Tim111]

Hi, had an MRI and it confirms a small ASD from birth, its currently with the consultants to confirm what action is it be taken, close or leave open.

I wanted ask if others have a small ASD and is left alone or have had it closed and how this affected you post closure ?

thanks in advance

[Yumz199725]

I don't sorry but I do have a VSD which they want to leave because closing it would be difficult.

[Tim111 in reply to Yumz199725]

thanks for replying, hope you're keeping well

[10gingercats]

I had mine closed because it was thought to have caused an embolism and a small TIA. I had probably had it since birth but I was happy for them to operate. If it is smallish they do it by catheter insertion through groin and i was only sedated .It took about 1 hour and then recovery for a few hours but I went home the same day.

[Tim111 in reply to 10gingercats]

thanks for the reply, did you feel any better/different after, assuming you felt some affects before ? my blood pressure is all over the place, high and then low depending on how much I exercise, even though im on meds for this.

[10gingercats in reply to Tim111]

I felt much more energetic. I hadn't had high blood pressure before the op. but may have had AFib. I had recently been put onto Warfarin(it was 10 years ago) after the TIA(op. followed quite quickly after the TIA) but later went onto Apixaban which is still the case.

[Tim111 in reply to 10gingercats]

that’s great news about your energy levels, thanks for sharing

[Lilypocket]

Hi Tim, What is ASD?

[Digger0 in reply to Lilypocket]

Atrial Septal Defect = hole between the top two chambers of the heart caused by it not closing at birth

[Lilypocket in reply to Digger0]

Thanks for your reply. I am more versed with rhythm problem acronyms 🙂.

[Sparklegrrl]

I have a VSD rather than an ASD which I've had since birth. I was quite ill with it as an infant but they decided to see if it would close on its own as they often do. Mine never fully closed but it's never caused me any problems and I'm able to live a normal life minus a few things I have been advised to avoid (piercings, tattoos, very strenuous exercise). I have check ups every couple of years with an ECG and echo.

[Digger0]

My ASD was diagnosed at 69 when I started getting breathless on hills and my GP found a slight heart murmur. It was 1.9cm by 0.9 cm. mine also had strings of heart muscle across it. After echocardiogram, transosophoieal echo (TOE) and MRI they decided it need ed closing. I was referred to the Adult Congenital Heart Defect Service at Liverpool and they are excellent. They decided to mend the hole as I was having problems doing much more than 500m. This was repaired with 2 devices, via the veins in my groins. I was in overnight as I live in Derbyshire and went hope the next day. The only discomfort was my throat as I had a breathing tube in while under anaesthetic and a TOE camera as well. 2 weeks post op I was back doing 7km in the Derbyshire Dales. This is the link to the NW Congenital Heart Network. northwestchdnetwork.nhs.uk/... Your area should have something similar. Since having mine closed, I have got my life back! DM me if you need more info

[Tim111 in reply to Digger0]

amazing, thanks for sharing your experiences

[Silvertail]

I have a PFO and Atrial Septal Aneurysm and no cardiologist has mentioned closing them. I have heard of people getting their PFO closed, though, as it could be associated with a stroke. Mine was found in a routine echocardiogram at age 77. I was told that about 20- 25% of the population has a PFO, and it is sometimes never found until an autopsy.

[Digger0]

I forgot to say earlier, make sure you get your teeth checked at the dentist as soon as possible, as they will not repair an ASD unless your teeth are ok. As soon as I knew I was going to be operated on, I got mine done, and then had them checked before surgery, as my consultant said it was surprising the amount of people on his list who were waiting for their teeth to be sorted before he could operate on them.