Heart is one of the most important organs of our cardiovascular and circulatory system and if there is even a minute problem in its structure of functioning it indeed is a grave thing. Heart attacks, blockages are a common thing. But a heart murmur of having a hole in the heart is certainly very serious and which cannot be prevented as it is a natural defect in almost all the cases. Many young infants are born with such type of problems. But due to clinical advancements, now such problems can be fixed and new lease of life is given to the patient.

What is a hole in heart?

It is a very simple type of congenital heart defect. Hole in the heart is a problem related to the structure of the heart and is present right from the birth. Due to this defect in the heart, the normal blood flow is changed. The heart comprise of two sides which are separated by septum- an inner wall. With every beat of the heart, its right side gets oxygen deficient blood from the body and directs it through pumping towards the lungs.  Similarly, the heart’s left side gets oxygen rich blood via lungs and then pumps into the body from where it is reached to various cells units of different organs. The key role here is of the septum which divides the two sides and stops the blood from two sides mixing with each other.

But sometimes babies are born with a small hole in the lower or upper part of the septum. When the hole is present in the upper two chambers (atria) of the septum it is known as atrial septal defect or ASD. When the hole is in the septum in between the lower two chambers of the heart (ventricles), the defect is termed as ventricular septal defect (VSD).  

What happens if the heart has a hole?

When there is a hole in the heart or septum, it allows the passage of blood from left side of the heart to the right side of the heart due to which the oxygen deficient blood and the oxygen rich blood gets mixed up and the oxygen rich blood has to be pumped again by the lungs second time. 

What is the treatment for ASD and VSD?

The diagnosis as well as the treatment for ASDs and also the VSDs has greatly advanced due to the inventions of newer innovative therapies. Earlier, people used to go from surgeon to surgeon for saving their child. But the surgery or operation was not always successful. But today, the scenario has changed and such operations have become very common. Due to this a child suffering from the problem of hole in the heart can grow as adult and lead a normal, productive and active life.  The defect is now 100% treated and no problems arise in the future after the treatment in most cases. So, if you ever come across such a defect in any child assure the parents that this is no more a dreadful condition and the child can lead a normal life in the future after treatment.