Atrial Septal Defect

Institutes & Services > TriHealth Heart & Vascular Institute > Conditions > Atrial Septal Defect

What is an Atrial Septal Defect?

An atrial septal defect (ASD) is a congenital heart defect that allows blood to pass between the left and right atria via the interatrial septum. When this septum is missing or defective, venous blood and arterial oxygen-rich blood can mix and be pushed throughout the body with less oxygen than is needed. One specific type of ASD is patent foramen ovale (PFO).

TriHealth.com Health Library: Atrial Septal Defect
Atrial Septal Defect  

How is Atrial Septal Defect Treated at TriHealth?

Small atrial septal defects in otherwise healthy patients can go untreated. Commonly the PFO will be repaired via surgery, but newer catheter-based options are now available. Treatments for atrial septal defects include:

Cardiac Surgery

Our cardiac specialists perform over 650 heart surgeries every year, including procedures performed using minimally invasive techniques. 

Structural Heart Repairs

Our interventional cardiologists boast a 100 percent success rate on catheter-based closure of a patent foramen ovale (PFO).

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