Ostium Secundum

I am a 30yr old woman and was just diagnosed with an ostium secundum, however further evaluation of shunt flow is suggested. I don't understand the meaning and what are the treatments?.

[kenkeith]

Ostium secundum atrial septal defect (hole) occurs in the center of the wall (septum) between the upper heart chambers (right and left atrium). Shunt flow is an evaluation of the amount of blood passed through the defect into the opposite chamber.

When there is a hole between chambers there can be passage of blood from the chamber with the highest pressure usually left to right artium.  That indicates oxygenated blood goes into the chamber with non-oxygenated blood and is pumped again to the lungs. Sometimes the shunting is minor and needs no intervention.  

The treatment can be nonsurgical closure. Cardiologists conduct nonsurgical closure when possible to avoid the need for open-heart surgery. Doctors are able to patch the hole with a cath.  However, not all atrial septal defects can be repaired using this technique.Then surgeons perform open-heart surgery to close the atrial septal defect.

"Typically, the surgeon opens the heart and closes the atrial septal defect with stitches (if the ASD is small) or with a patch (if the ASD is large). Recently, Mayo Clinic surgeons have performed this surgery using small incisions or a robotic technique."

Hope this helps, and thanks for sharing, and if you have any further questions feel free to respond.

[arijeire]

Thank you so much for your answer to my question, it really helped me eventhou I'm still concerned and a liittle bit depressed about it but hopefully everything with Gods will; will be allright.