Information for patients

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Wellington Hospital
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
Clementine Churchill BMI (Harrow)
Lindo Wing, St Mary's Hospital

Patient testimonials

First, I can’t thank you enough for all your time, interest and care on Thursday.

Secondly, the one stop ‘plumb and sparks’ shop is seriously impressive, staffed by great, caring and efficient people who are fun. In about an hour to do an echo, treadmill test and take 49 blood samples etc. must be close to a W.R....

Seriously, from the patients point of view you are offering full diagnostics almost in the ‘golden hour’ whereas with most other approaches it takes more like a month! The expeditious approach apart from removing patients uncertainty which often weighs heavily means if necessary you are in to treatment almost immediately....

Patients will definitely feel that they and their quality of lfe is being put first.

Mr Y. (2010) Suffolk.

Atrial Septal Defect (ASD)

This practice done not deal with patients under the age of 16. Adults with atrial septal defects (ASDs) often have minimal symptoms. You may present with mild breathlessness, or more likely, just be picked up by the doctor hearing a sound whilst listening to the heart. In addition you may be picked up when doing a routine electrocardiogram (ECG) or echocardiogram (TTE).

Atrial Septal defect (ASD) seen from the right side.

Transoesophageal echocardiogram (TOE) showing an atrial septal defect (ASD). The blue colour represents blood going across the hole.

For most ages of patient, further investigation is warranted. A decision needs to be made on the size of the hole, and of the risks and benefits of ASD closure. To assess the size of the hole. Transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) and cardiac MRI scanning are useful. A coronary angiogram to look for related coronary artery disease and measure heart pressures may be needed. In addition, assessment of your true limitation of exercise tolerance may be made with an MVO2 exercise treadmill test (ETT).

If closure is planned, then the choice is between surgery and an umbrella device placed via a groin puncture (See ASD closure)