Congenital heart defect corrective surgeries

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		Heart, front view
Ultrasound, normal fetus - heartbeat	Ultrasound, normal fetus - heartbeat

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Coarctation of the aorta repair

• Coarctation of the aorta occurs when a part of the aorta has a very narrow section, like in an hourglass timer.
• To repair this defect, a cut is usually made on the left side of the chest, between the ribs. There are many ways to repair coarctation of the aorta.
• The most common way to repair this is to cut the narrow section and make it bigger with a patch made of Gore-tex, a man-made (synthetic) material.
• Another way to repair this problem is to remove the narrow section of the aorta and stitch the remaining ends together. This can usually be done in older children.
• A third way to repair this problem is called a subclavian flap. First, a cut is made in the narrow part of the aorta. Then, a patch is taken from the left subclavian artery (the artery to the arm) to enlarge the narrow section of the aorta.
• A fourth way to repair the problem is to connect a tube to the normal sections of the aorta, on either side of the narrow section. Blood flows through the tube and bypasses the narrow section.
• A newer method does not require surgery. A small wire is placed through an artery in the groin and up to the aorta. A small balloon is then opened up in the narrow area. A stent or small tube is left there to help keep the artery open. The procedure is done in a laboratory with x-rays.

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Atrial septal defect (ASD) repair

• The atrial septum is the wall between the left and right atria (upper chambers) of the heart. There is a natural opening before birth that usually closes on its own when a baby is born. When the flap does not close, the child has an ASD.
• Sometimes ASDs can be closed without open-heart surgery. First, the surgeon makes a tiny cut in the groin. Then the surgeon inserts tubes into a blood vessel that go into the heart. Next, two small umbrella-shaped "clamshell" devices are placed on the right and left sides of the septum. These two devices are attached to each other. This closes the hole in the heart. Not all medical centers do this procedure.
• Open-heart surgery may also be done to repair ASD. Using open-heart surgery, the septum can be closed using stitches. Another way to cover the hole is with a patch.