Dear Azrah Ali,
A 7 mm secundum ASD is not likely to close by itself. She will likely need to have it closed by age 3 to 5 years, assuming that she continues to have no symptoms. However, it can now be closed with the placement of a device through a catheter, so actual open heart surgery does not have to be performed. This is something that you will want done by a cardiologist with plenty of experience doing this, so you should discuss this with your cardiologist. If your cardiologist does not have much experience doing this, I would make sure to get a second opinion.
Dear Azrah,
It would be worthwhile getting outcomes data from Dr. Shetty's hospital before just trusting friends' statements. I do not know cardiologists in India, otherwise. You can get the information from our nurse navigators if you contact them directly.
Hi Jerrey,
There is one more question, I have checked the link that you have given me it is wonderful but could you please tell me the approximate expenses that are to be spent on this process.excluding the visa,ticket and staying expenses.
Thank you.
Hi Jeffrey,
Thanks for answering my question but could you please suggest me any doctor from india.I want to make sure that we check for the resources nearby first.
And the doubt about DR DEVI PRASAD SHETTY is that he is the owner of a well known hospital called NARAYANA HRUDALAYA.I got this information from my friends who work in that city and they told me that this hospital performs almost 15 to 20 pediatric surgeries everyday.
Just to make sure should i go and get a check up done of my baby there to be assured.And one more question if i have to get this process done by your partners will I get all the information about the process time, money,and other info on the link that you have given me.
Thanks for your time.
Dr. Shetty is an adult cardiac surgeon, not a pediatric cardiologist, so I do not believe it would be appropriate to have that done by him. I am an outpatient cardiologist, so I do not perform this procedure. However, my partners do perform this. If you are interested further in coming here, please contact our International Medicine section through this link: http://www.chop.edu/service/international-medicine/international-patient-services/
Hi Jeffrey, Thank you for the information.I want to choose the best doctor for my baby no matter where the doctor is located.Please help me on this. I also want to take your suggestion regarding a famous indian pediatric cardio, his name is DR DEVI PRASAD SHETTY.He is one of the well reputed and extremely successful doctors in india if you can give me suggestion on this doctor.
I am sure as you are a doctor you know about well known doctors from all over the world.And there is one more question "Can i get my baby's process done by you"
Thanks for your time and effort to answer my question.
Dear Azrah Ali,
Allow me to answer your questions based on the numbers:
1. Yes, in the right/experienced hands
2. As long as the device is placed and the defect is able to be completely occluded, the lining of the heart grows over the device. We don't necessarily have data over a complete lifetime (it has only been done since the mid '90's), but long term data demonstrates that it works.
3. Not at all--treat her as normal.
4. Yes--this depends on your pediatric cardiologist
5. That is the expectation
6. This is the hardest question. I would talk with your pediatrician as well as your pediatric cardiologist. The pediatric cardiologist who performs this should be able to demonstrates data regarding outcomes and complications. However, it is certainly reasonable to get several opinions.
Hi Jeffrey thank you for the information, I have a series of questions regarding the method of catheterization please help me to understand the process.
1>Is it safe?
2>Does the process of catheterization guarantees for lifetime?
3>Do we have to take care of the baby in a fragile manner always?
4>Do we need to go for medical checkups after this process of closure, If Yes then till what time?
5>Can she have a normal life after this process with no complications in future?
6>How do I find the best doctor for my baby?
Thank you