A medical team at the University of Jordan Hospital (JUH) comprised of Consultant Pediatric Cardiologist Dr. Iyad Al Ammouri, Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon Dr. Amjad Bani Hani in addition to Anesthesiologist Prof. Islam Massad recently performed a hybrid cardiac surgical procedure to close a large atrial septal defect for the first time at the hospital.

 

Dr. Al Ammouri explained that this procedure which combines surgery and catheterization procedures was made after diagnosing the 31-years-old patient with a large atrial septal defect, in addition to having a birth defect in the inferior vena cava that made closure of the atrial septal defect by catheterization alone impossible.

 

He added that the procedure was carried out through a small incision (3 cm) on the right side of the chest to access the wall of the right atrium. A puncture hole was made in the wall of the right atrium through which the atrial septal occluder device was placed in the defect, avoiding the need for open-heart surgery.

 

Dr. Al Ammouri confirmed that the procedure, which lasted for about two hours, was a success due to the combined efforts of the medical team.