Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Heart problems for a book

Hi:

I'm writing a book in which a 6 year old is in a hospital with VSD and having a patch placed over the hole.
This is a work of fiction for young adults but I do need to get my facts straight.

My question is the 6 year old is:  Would I be correct in saying the first patch was put in place when he was four and is being removed and replaced now with a new patch?
Why would an old patch need to be replaced?
Also is this surgery performed by a cardio thoracic surgeon?

Thanks
Genie

Thanks,

Genie
3 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
976897 tn?1379167602
I don't think it has to be replaced at any time because tissue grows to cover the hole once the implant is in place. This will grow with the heart.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I think Irineo is right,

Have a look at this:

http://my.clevelandclinic.org/heart/disorders/congenital/pfo.aspx
Helpful - 0
187666 tn?1331173345
I honestly don't know but when I went to a health fair a few years ago, they had a table of the "patches" used for closing holes. It was like a collapsed umbrella - they insert it via catheter, place it and then pop it open. My understanding is that the heart tissue adheres in time to the mesh structure so it doesn't shift. I'm not sure how they would remove that without tearing a larger hole in the heart structure. But I'm not a cardiac surgeon either.
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Heart Disease Community

Top Heart Disease Answerers
159619 tn?1707018272
Salt Lake City, UT
11548417 tn?1506080564
Netherlands
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Is a low-fat diet really that heart healthy after all? James D. Nicolantonio, PharmD, urges us to reconsider decades-long dietary guidelines.
Can depression and anxiety cause heart disease? Get the facts in this Missouri Medicine report.
Fish oil, folic acid, vitamin C. Find out if these supplements are heart-healthy or overhyped.
Learn what happens before, during and after a heart attack occurs.
What are the pros and cons of taking fish oil for heart health? Find out in this article from Missouri Medicine.
How to lower your heart attack risk.