• Angina

    Atrial Septal Defect

    An atrial septal defect (ASD) is a hole in the “wall” (called the septum) that separates the heart’s two upper chambers (the atria). Of the thousands of babies born each year with a cardiovascular defect, 4 to 10 percent have septal defects in the wall between the atria or the ventricles (lower chambers), according to the American Heart Association.

  • Anna Grace Bundros - Thriving After Successful Treatment of Congenital Heart Defect

    In 2000, Anna Grace Bundros was a healthy newborn who met every developmental milestone over the next six years. But the active, vibrant little girl was small for her age and often a little lethargic, lacking the energy to play for hours like other kids her age. A series of tests revealed Anna Grace had a hole in her heart known as an atrial septal defect. Her parents weighed the pros and cons of two treatments and chose the less invasive option. After successful treatment, Anna Grace is thriving and back playing like other girls her age. Read her family’s story.

    Brandy Albracht - Minimally Invasive Procedure Reduces Migraines and Restores Quality of Life

    When Brandy’s migraine headaches began having an increasingly negative effect on her quality of life, she sought help from a cardiologist. She had heard about a possible connection between migraines and a congenital heart defect often referred to as a “hole in the heart.” When her cardiologist found an atrial septal defect, he recommended a minimally invasive procedure to close the hole. His focus was on preventing a stroke, but in Brandy’s case the procedure also helped to dramatically reduce the frequency of her migraines. Read Brandy’s story.