A new procedure in Western Baptist Hospital’s cath lab is offering yet another minimally invasive alternative to major heart surgery. In the past, patients who suffered from stroke due to PFO (patent foramen ovale), more commonly referred to as a “hole in the heart,” required open-heart surgery to correct the defect. Another regional cardiac first at Western Baptist Hospital, however, offers a less invasive approach. Dr. Kenneth Ford, a cardiologist with The Heart Group, explains that closure of the defect through the use of CardioSeal® catheterization means quicker recovery time, shorter hospital stay, less pain, and no scarring.

“The benefits of using the catheter method to repair this type of defect are tremendous,” says Dr. Ford. “Instead of performing a major surgery, cardiologists can simply insert a catheter into the patient’s groin and place an implant at the site of the hole. The implant is then released from the catheter and the catheter is removed from the body. In time, new tissue grows into the implant fabric, becoming part of the heart.”

A PFO is a small flap valve defect between the right and left atrium. According to Dr. Ford, this defect can be opened when people increase pressure on their chest, such as during strenuous lifting or a severe cough. When the valve is opened, a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or stroke may result. By placing the CardioSeal® implant over the hole, debris is prevented from entering, thus decreasing the patient’s risk for a TIA or stroke.

“The implant looks like two umbrellas set edge to edge,” explains Dr. Ford. “Each umbrella framework has special springs that allow the umbrellas to spring toward the hole. This very slight tension, along with the blood in the heart, holds the device in place.”

The new treatment method will require only light sedation and the patient will be discharged the same day. Once implanted, the device is intended to stay in place indefinitely.