I've just been told I have an atrial septal defect that's 27mmI found out by chance at age 20. I exercise regularly, like swimming every day for 30 minutes along with doing push-ups and pull-ups. I don't have any symptoms, but I'm curious if I should get this fixed. If so, would it have to be open-heart surgery or is there another less invasive method available?
Based on the size of the atrial septal defect and your age, closure may be recommended to prevent any potential complications in the future. One common method for closing an atrial septal defect is through a minimally invasive procedure called transcatheter closure, which does not require open heart surgery. However, the decision on whether to close the defect and the choice of procedure should be discussed with a cardiologist who can evaluate your specific case in detail.