Ways To Treat Pulmonary Hypertension

Atrial Septostomy

An atrial septostomy is a surgical procedure often recommended to patients with severe pulmonary hypertension. The procedure helps decrease the pressure placed on the right side of the heart. An atrial septostomy can also benefit patients who commonly experience fainting, which occurs due to the sudden increases in lung pressure that can sometimes happen with this condition. During an atrial septostomy, the surgeon makes a small incision in the septum (wall) that lies between the right and left atria of the heart. The hole protects the right side of the heart by allowing it to decompress in the event of a sudden rise in lung pressure. The procedure can be performed using a balloon or a blade. Balloon operations are known as balloon atrial septostomy or Rashkind's procedure, and blade procedures are medically referred to as blade atrial septostomy or static balloon atrial septostomy. Complications from the procedure include tearing of the cardiac muscle and abnormal heart rhythms.

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