What is the disease where you have a hole in your heart and only 25 people in th!
Question:
What is the disease where you have a hole in your heart and only 25 people in the U.S had it and .....?
its something like barnersgardenlomatosis. lol NOT the real word but something like it lol
Answers:
A "hole in the heart" is called a septal defect, these defects can either be atrial of ventricular.
Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD)
What It Is
The septum is a wall that separates the heart's left and right sides. Septal defects are sometimes called a "hole" in the heart. A defect between the heart's two lower chambers (the ventricles) is called a ventricular septal defect (VSD).
When there is a large opening between the ventricles, a large amount of oxygen-rich (red) blood from the heart's left side is forced through the defect into the right side. Then it's pumped back to the lungs, even though it's already been refreshed with oxygen. This is inefficient, because already-oxygenated blood displaces blood that needs oxygen. This means the heart, which must pump more blood, may enlarge from the added work. High blood pressure may occur in the lungs' blood vessels because more blood is there. Over time, this increased pulmonary hypertension may permanently damage the blood vessel walls.
If the opening between the ventricles is small, it doesn't strain the heart. In that case, the only abnormal finding is a loud murmur.
Surgical Therapy
Closing small ventricular septal defects may not be needed. They often close on their own in childhood or adolescence. But if the opening is large, even in patients with few symptoms, closing the hole in the first two years of life is recommended to prevent serious problems later. Usually the defect is closed with a patch. Over time the normal heart lining tissue covers the patch, so it becomes a permanent part of the heart. Some defects can be sewn closed without a patch. Repairing a VSD restores the blood circulation to normal. The long-term outlook is good.
Ongoing Care
Medical
After their VSD is closed, patients should be examined regularly by a cardiologist. He or she will make sure that the heart is working normally.
Activity Restrictions
Most patients won't need to limit their activity. However, if you have pulmonary hypertension or your heart doesn't pump as well as it used to, you may need to limit your activity to how much you can endure. Your cardiologist will help determine if you need to limit your activity.
Endocarditis Prevention
Unclosed VSDs require endocarditis prophylaxis. After the VSD is successfully closed, preventive treatment is needed only during a six-month healing period. (See section on Endocarditis.)
Problems You May Have
Most people whose uncomplicated ventricular septal defects are repaired early in life don't have any significant long-term problems. In some people, the heart muscle may be less able to contract. This requires diuretics, agents to help the heart pump better and drugs to control blood pressure. Also, if pulmonary hypertension develops (it's uncommon), you may need more medical therapy.
Will You Need More Surgery?
People whose ventricular septal defects are repaired rarely need more surgery unless residual defects are seen afterwards. If this occurs, whether you'll need surgery depends upon the size of the residual defects.
Atrial Septal Defect (ASD)
What It Is
The septum is a wall that separates the heart's left and right sides. Septal defects are sometimes called a "hole" in the heart. A defect between the heart's two upper chambers (the atria) is called an atrial septal defect (ASD).
When there is a large defect between the atria, a large amount of oxygen-rich (red) blood leaks from the heart's left side back to the right side. Then this blood is pumped back to the lungs, despite already having been refreshed with oxygen. This is inefficient, because already-oxygenated blood displaces blood that needs oxygen. Many people with this defect have few, if any, symptoms.
Surgical Therapy
Closing an atrial septal defect in childhood can prevent serious problems later in life. The long-term outlook is excellent. If atrial septal defects are diagnosed in adulthood, the defect is also repaired. Rarely, the defect is left unrepaired if there's pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs). Your cardiologist can determine if the defect should be closed.
Ongoing Care
Medical
After an ASD is closed, patients need follow-up with a cardiologist. Only rarely will they need to take medicine. Your cardiologist can monitor you with noninvasive tests if needed. These include electrocardiograms, Holter monitors, exercise stress tests and echocardiograms. They will help show if more procedures, such as a cardiac catheterization, are needed.
Activity Restrictions
Activity restrictions are almost never needed unless there are associated problems that you and your doctor have discussed.
Endocarditis Prevention
Not needed.
Problems You May Have
People with repaired atrial septal defects rarely have any problems. Those who have palpitations or faint need to be reevaluated by their cardiologist and may need medical therapy. Also, if the ASD is diagnosed late in life, the heart may be less able to pump. This can require diuretics, drugs to help the heart pump better and drugs to control blood pressure. If pulmonary hypertension develops (which is rare), some people may need more medications.
Will You Need More Surgery?
Once an ASD has been closed, it's unlikely that more surgery will be needed. Rarely, a patient may have a residual hole. Whether it will need to be closed depends upon its size.
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.j...
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.j...