WELCOME to the ATRIAL SEPTAL DEFECT COMMUNITY: This Patient-To-Patient Community is for discussions relating to Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) which is a hole in the part of the septum that separates the atria (the upper chambers of the heart). This hole allows oxygen-rich blood from the left atrium to flow into the right atrium instead of flowing into the left ventricle as it should. This means that oxygen-rich blood gets pumped back to the lungs, where it has just been, instead of going to the body.
Valvular Disease
American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association presents the Guidelines for Managing Patients with Valvular Disease. Use this link to access the guidelines:
http://content.onlinejacc.org/cgi/content/full/48/3/e1
Cleveland Clinic, the #1 Heart Center in the U.S. provides the following information for valve surgery patients and their families/friends:
For more information on valve surgery:
http://www.medhelp.org/Medical-Dictionary/Terms/1/002954.htm
