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Infants with congenital heart abnormalities can survive until they have corrective surgery with the use of a septostomy. The Rashkind procedure or balloon atrial septostomy is another term for septostomy. Because it affects the atria, the two upper chambers of the infant's heart, the treatment is referred to as "atrial."
A small opening in the septum of a fetus is called the foramen ovale. The wall separating their heart's left and right halves is called the septum. Blood can move from the right side of the fetus's heart to the left side through the foramen ovale. A balloon catheter is used during the septostomy procedure to enlarge the foramen ovale and permit blood from both sides of the heart to mix. Thus, blood with and without oxygen combine. To give the baby enough time for surgery, the method maintains the foramen ovale open.
This is a percutaneous technique, which means that a medical professional will penetrate the skin with a needle and implant a catheter. A balloon within the catheter enlarges a hole that exists naturally in the infant's heart. Blood with more oxygen can mingle with blood with less oxygen through this opening. The baby's body can then begin to circulate this partially oxygenated blood after it has left the heart. The infant's blood would simply be low in oxygen flowing through their body without this pathway.
A Septostomy is not exactly an open cardiac surgery. Rather, it's an interim solution to bridge the time between birth and surgery.
General classification of Septostomy:
- Balloon atrial septostomy (BAS)- is a medical procedure used mostly in cases of poor mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood at the atrial level, such as transposition of the great arteries (TGA).
- Rashkind Balloon Atrial Septostomy- Applied only to infants with intact ventricular septum and transplacental ablation.
- Blade Atrial Septostomy- Applied in difficult situations when balloon procedures are impractical or ineffective.
- Surgical atrial septostomy- Taken into consideration when catheter-based methods are impractical or have not worked.
Septostomy is required by:
- Some cyanotic heart abnormalities in infants may require a septostomy. These are abnormalities that stop the infant's blood which is low in oxygen from getting to its lungs to receive more oxygen hence, the body's tissues are deprived of oxygen when this occurs. Their skin turns blue due to oxygen deprivation (cyanosis). It is extremely dangerous, severe cyanosis requires emergency medical attention.
- Some medications, including prostaglandin E1, may be given to infants with these conditions to help them breathe better.
- Bleeding at the catheter insertion site
- Infection
- Heart arrhythmias
- Blood clot formation
- Cardiac perforation
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Paracelsus Clinic
Lustmuhle, Switzerland
Apart from in-detail treatment procedures available, Paracelsus Clinic located in Lustmuhle, Switzerland has a wide variety of facilities available for International Patients. Some of the facilities which are provided by them are Accommodation, Airport Transfer, Choice of Meals, Interpreter, SIM, TV inside room. Also listed below are some of the most prominent infrastructural details:
- Five large buildings that caters to 8000+ outpatients every year
- Medical staff of the Hospital includes 5 Doctors, 2 Dentists, 40+ nurses
- Paracelsus Pharmacy
- Paracelsus Dentistry
- Culinarium/Restaurant
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+99Process Involved for Balloon Atrial Septostomy in Lustmuhle
- Preoperative Evaluation Stage: Imaging is used to confirm the diagnosis, anesthesia is administered, and IV access with vital sign monitoring is set up.
- Catheter Insertion & Balloon Placement
- Balloon Inflation & Atrial Septum Dilation
- Post-Procedure Monitoring: The patient receives the appropriate supportive care while being monitored for oxygen levels, cardiac function, and problems in the intensive care unit.
- Recovery & Follow-Up
- Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA)
- Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS)
- Restrictive Atrial Septal Defect (ASD)
- Severe Pulmonary Hypertension
- Other Congenital Heart Defects
- Newborns with Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA)
- Infants with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS)
- Patients with Restrictive Atrial Septal Defect (ASD)
- Severe Pulmonary Hypertension Cases
- Critically Ill Infants with low oxygen levels
- Echocardiography
- Cardiac Catheterization
- Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) Analysis
- Prostaglandin Therapy
- Definitive Corrective Surgery
- Improves Oxygenation
- Stabilises Critically Ill Newborns
- Reduces Right Atrial Pressure
- Minimally Invasive Procedure
- Allows Time for Definitive Surgery
- Pediatric Cardiologist
- Interventional Cardiologist
- Cardiac Surgeon
- Fill out the inquiry form: Fill out the form to provide us with the relevant information about your condition.
- Consult with Our Healthcare Expert: One of our qualified specialists will contact you for a consultation.
- Receive a Detailed Treatment Plan: After examining your situation, we will provide you with a detailed treatment plan that includes expert views and cost breakdowns for various choices.
- Choose your preferred option: Choose the treatment option that suits you the best.
