Atrial septostomy is a surgical procedure that creates a small opening between the heart's two upper chambers, the atria, most often to palliate dextro-transposition of the great arteries, a life-threatening cyanotic heart defect in infants, before an arterial switch operation; it has also seen limited use as a treatment for pulmonary hypertension. The first version of the procedure was developed by Vivien Thomas in a canine model and first performed in humans by Alfred Blalock, and the balloon technique in common use today, the Rashkind procedure, was developed in 1966 by cardiologist William Rashkind at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
Facts
FAQs
Why is an atrial septostomy done when the great arteries are transposed?
It widens a small opening between the heart's upper chambers so blood can mix and pressure on the left atrium eases.
In transposition of the great arteries, a review in a medical journal reports that the procedure is done almost routinely when the opening between the two upper chambers of the heart is too small, which is called a restrictive interatrial communication. Widening that opening, usually with the balloon technique known as the Rashkind procedure, lets blood mix between the atria and takes pressure off the left atrium. The same review describes the Rashkind approach as a reference technique in congenital heart interventions, even though other techniques have since been developed.
Connections
Treats
Source Atrial septostomy (Wikipedia)
Source Atrial septostomy (Wikipedia)
Source Atrial septostomy (Wikipedia)
Sources
1. Wikipedia
Wikipedia contributors, Wikimedia Foundation
2. Atrial septostomy (Wikipedia)
- Rashkind balloon procedure developed in 1966 by William Rashkind, article intro
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atrial_septostomy, lead section
Atrial septostomy is a surgical procedure in which a small hole is created between the upper two chambers of the heart, the atria.
Treats: Pulmonary Hypertension, Lead: treats Pulmonary Hypertension
Atrial septostomy has also seen limited use as a surgical treatment for pulmonary hypertension.
Treats: Dextro-Transposition of the great arteries, Lead: treats Dextro-Transposition of the great arteries
This procedure is primarily used to palliate dextro-Transposition of the great arteries or d-TGA (often imprecisely called transposition of the great arteries), a life-threatening cyanotic congenital heart defect seen in infants.
Treats: Congenital Heart Defect, Lead: treats Congenital Heart Defect
This procedure is primarily used to palliate dextro-Transposition of the great arteries or d-TGA (often imprecisely called transposition of the great arteries), a life-threatening cyanotic congenital heart defect seen in infants.
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