Atrial Septal Defect Repair in Children
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on May 4, 2025.
An ASD repair is surgery to close a hole in the septum (wall) between the upper chambers of your child's heart. The upper chambers are called the right atrium and the left atrium. An ASD repair is done through open heart surgery or a percutaneous (through the skin) procedure. The type of repair used depends on the size of the ASD and your child's age and symptoms.
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DISCHARGE INSTRUCTIONS:
Call your local emergency number (911 in the US) if:
- Your child has severe chest pain.
- Your child has trouble breathing or sudden shortness of breath.
- Your child coughs up blood.
- Your child loses consciousness or stops breathing.
- Your child has any of the following signs of a stroke:
- Part of his or her face droops or is numb
- Weakness in an arm or leg
- Confusion or trouble speaking
- Dizziness, a severe headache, or vision loss
Seek care immediately if:
- Blood soaks through your child's bandage.
- Your child's stitches come apart.
- Your child's heart is beating faster or slower than usual.
- Your child's mouth, lips, or tongue is blue.
- Your child is restless or anxious.
- Your child has swelling in his or her legs or feet.
- Your child has severe abdominal pain or his or her abdomen is larger than usual.
- Your child stops urinating or urinates less than usual.
Call your child's cardiologist or surgeon if:
- Your child has a fever or chills.
- Your child's pain does not get better after he or she takes pain medicine.
- Your child's appetite is poor.
- Your child gets tired easily when he or she is eating.
- Your child's incision site is red or swollen.
- Your child has nausea or is vomiting.
- Your child's skin is itchy, swollen, or he or she has a rash.
- Your child does not gain weight, or he or she loses weight.
- You have questions or concerns about your child's condition or care.
Medicines:
Your child may need any of the following:
- Heart medicine may be given to control your child's heartbeat or strengthen his or her heart.
- Diuretics may be given to remove extra fluid from your child's body.
- Antibiotics may be given to prevent a bacterial infection.
- Blood thinners help prevent blood clots. Blood thinners may be given before, during, and after your child's surgery or procedure. Blood thinners make it more likely for your child to bleed or bruise.
- Acetaminophen decreases pain and fever. It is available without a doctor's order. Ask how much to give your child and how often to give it. Follow directions. Read the labels of all other medicines your child uses to see if they also contain acetaminophen, or ask your child's doctor or pharmacist. Acetaminophen can cause liver damage if not taken correctly.
- NSAIDs , such as ibuprofen, help decrease swelling, pain, and fever. NSAIDs can cause stomach bleeding or kidney problems in certain people. If your child takes blood thinner medicine, always ask if NSAIDs are safe for him or her. Always read the medicine label and follow directions. Do not give these medicines to children younger than 6 months without direction from a healthcare provider.
- Do not give aspirin to children younger than 18 years. Your child could develop Reye syndrome if he or she has the flu or a fever and takes aspirin. Reye syndrome can cause life-threatening brain and liver damage. Check your child's medicine labels for aspirin or salicylates.
- Give your child's medicine as directed. Contact your child's healthcare provider if you think the medicine is not working as expected. Tell the provider if your child is allergic to any medicine. Keep a current list of the medicines, vitamins, and herbs your child takes. Include the amounts, and when, how, and why they are taken. Bring the list or the medicines in their containers to follow-up visits. Carry your child's medicine list with you in case of an emergency.
Care for your child's incision site as directed:
- Ask your child's healthcare provider when you can remove your child's bandage and bathe him or her. Your child may only be able to take a sponge bath or shower. A bath may increase your child's risk for an incision site infection. Carefully wash around the incision site with soap and water. It is okay to let soap and water gently run over the incision site. Do not scrub your child's incision site. Gently pat the site dry.
- Change your child's bandages when they get wet or dirty. Do not put powders or lotions on your child's incision site unless his or her healthcare provider says it is okay. Do not let your child swim until his or her healthcare provider says it is okay. This will decrease your child's risk for a wound infection. Check your child's incision site every day for signs of infection, such as redness or swelling.
Prevent infection:
- Wash your hands and your child's hands often. Use a germ-killing hand gel if soap and water are not available.
- Keep your child away from people who are sick. Ask family or friends not to visit if they are sick. Ask all visitors to wash their hands. Do not take your child to crowded places such as the mall or movies. Ask your child's healthcare provider how long you need to follow these directions.
- Ask your child's healthcare provider if he or she needs antibiotics before procedures. Some procedures can cause bacteria to get into your child's blood. The bacteria can travel to his or her heart and damage it. Your child may need antibiotics before certain procedures that happen in the next 6 months to prevent this. This may also include certain dental procedures. Ask your child's healthcare provider for more information.
- Ask your child's healthcare provider about vaccines. Your child may need to wait 2 to 3 months before he or she can get vaccines. Your child should continue with his or her vaccine schedule after this. Your child should get a flu vaccine every year.
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Help care for your child:
- Limit your child's activity as directed. Do not let your child lift anything heavy or play sports. These actions can put stress on his or her incision and cause it to come apart. Ask your child's healthcare provider which activities are safe for your child to do. Also ask when your child can return to his or her normal activities and to school or daycare.
- Handle your child carefully. Do not pick your child up by his or her arms. This may place too much stress on his or her incision and cause pain. Place pillows behind your child's back and head when you hold or feed him or her.
- Have your child drink liquids as directed. Ask how much liquid your child should drink each day and which liquids are best for him or her. If your child still breastfeeds, ask how much he or she should feed each day. You may need to feed your child smaller amounts more often until he or she is stronger.
- Feed your older child heart healthy foods. Examples include fruits, vegetables, whole-grain breads, low-fat dairy products, beans, lean meats, and fish. Ask if your child needs to be on a special diet. You may need to limit the amount of salt your child has each day. Too much salt may cause fluid to build up in his or her body and put stress on his or her heart.
Follow up with your child's cardiologist or surgeon as directed:
Your child will need to return for tests. These tests will make sure his or her heart is working correctly. Write down your questions so you remember to ask them during your visits.
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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.
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