Treatment of Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) in Germany
Best hospitals and doctors for patent foramen ovale (pfo) treatment in Germany
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An atrial septal defect (ASD) is a predominantly congenital heart defect in children. This heart defect can less commonly be an acquired disease after myocardial infarction. You can undergo treatment for your atrial septal defect in Germany. Doctors at hospitals in Germany mainly use minimally invasive procedures to eliminate this defect.
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Most patients undergo minimally invasive treatment, namely occluder implantation. German surgeons can also perform technically more complex open surgery whenever required.
The following hospitals specialize in treating patent foramen ovale: St. Vincentius Hospital Karlsruhe-Academic Hospital of the University of Freiburg, University Hospital Ulm, or University Hospital Frankfurt am Main.
The specialists from the Booking Health company will fully organize your treatment in Germany, from selecting a hospital and a doctor to translating recommendations after the completion of your treatment into your native language. Our employees will help you to apply for a visa, come to the hospital, and settle in a hotel. When at the hospital, you will be accompanied by an interpreter, and a personal coordinator will be in constant contact via messengers.
Types of the heart defect
There are several anatomical variants of the heart defect. These are as follows:
- primary or secondary atrial septal defect;
- patent foramen ovale (PFO);
- venous or coronary sinus defect.
The pathology usually does not have any severe manifestations and may be an incidental finding on an ultrasound scan. The disease is often diagnosed only in adults since symptoms may manifest themselves only after decades.
Minor defects that do not cause any right ventricular overload do not require any repair. They may be closed on their own. In addition, even unopened defects of the minimum size do not cause any complications, do not affect the quality of life, and life expectancy.
Severe defects are dangerous and require repair surgery. They can lead to the development of right-sided heart failure, embolic complications, and strokes.
Minimally invasive treatment
German specialists provide the treatment of patent foramen ovale in Germany with the use of minimally invasive techniques. They make a small incision on the leg, insert a catheter into the blood vessels, and an occluder through it. This device closes the heart defect.
Below are the selection criteria for this procedure:
- it is usually done on children weighing at least 8 kg (ideally between the ages of 1-2 years);
- the defect has a diameter of up to 3.5 cm;
- for a reliable occluder fixation, the defect's edges must be greater than 0.5 cm apart;
- the procedure can be performed for multiple defects, if all of them can be closed with an occluder (for example, atrial appendage occluder implantation);
- absence of additional heart defects requiring surgical treatment (atrial septal defect is often combined with anomalous pulmonary venous drainage, coronary sinus defect, and triatrial heart).
Surgical treatment
PFO reconstruction open surgery or open surgery for other types of atrial septal defect, which is performed through incisions in the chest, may be required in the following cases:
- the type of defect that is anatomically unsuitable for minimally invasive repair;
- development of tricuspid valve insufficiency, which requires its plastic repair or replacement;
- the presence of additional congenital heart defects that require surgical repair.
Surgical interventions are rarely required as only 10% of patients need such operations. In 90% of cases, heart defects can be repaired with the use of minimally invasive techniques.
Where to undergo treatment?
You can seek medical attention from one of the clinics in Germany to undergo your atrial septal defect treatment. On our website, you can get complete information about hospitals and choose the most suitable medical care program. The Booking Health company will take care of the organization of your trip to Germany. We offer the following benefits:
- selection of Heart Surgery Centers whose doctors specialize in treating atrial septal defects;
- direct communication with your cardiac surgeon;
- reduced treatment wait time and appointment on your preferred dates;
- reduced cost of surgery because prices will be lower due to the absence of additional fees for foreign patients;
- preparation of a medical care program without the need to repeat previously performed diagnostic procedures;
- communication with the hospital after the completion of your treatment;
- buying and forwarding medicines to your native country;
- organization of additional diagnostics, treatment, and cardiac rehabilitation in Germany.
The specialists from the Booking Health company provide high-quality related services. We will book hotel and airline tickets for you, organize your transfer from the airport to the hospital and back.
Authors:
The article was edited by medical experts, board-certified doctors Dr. Nadezhda Ivanisova and Dr. Sergey Pashchenko. For the treatment of the conditions referred to in the article, you must consult a doctor; the information in the article is not intended for self-medication!
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