Atrial septostomy
Atrial Septostomy
Atrial septostomy (pronounced: AY-tree-al sep-TOS-toh-mee) is a surgical procedure that creates a communication between the left and right atria of the heart. It is often performed to alleviate symptoms associated with certain congenital heart defects or pulmonary hypertension.
Etymology
The term "atrial septostomy" is derived from the Latin words "atrium" (meaning "entrance hall"), "septum" (meaning "partition"), and the Greek word "stoma" (meaning "mouth" or "opening"). Thus, the term essentially means "creating an opening in the partition of the entrance hall of the heart".
Procedure
During an atrial septostomy, a catheter is inserted into the heart through a vein in the leg. The catheter is guided to the atria, where a small hole is made in the atrial septum. This allows blood to flow between the two atria, which can help to relieve symptoms associated with certain heart conditions.
Indications
Atrial septostomy is often indicated for patients with congenital heart defects such as transposition of the great arteries or Eisenmenger's syndrome. It may also be used to treat patients with severe pulmonary hypertension.
Risks and Complications
As with any surgical procedure, atrial septostomy carries certain risks and potential complications. These may include bleeding, infection, damage to the heart, and arrhythmias.
Related Terms
- Balloon atrial septostomy: A specific type of atrial septostomy that uses a balloon catheter to create the opening in the atrial septum.
- Atrial septal defect: A congenital heart defect that involves a hole in the atrial septum. This condition may be treated with atrial septostomy in some cases.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Atrial septostomy
- Wikipedia's article - Atrial septostomy
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski