Cardiac Hole Closure

While some people have holes in their heart, not all holes cause problems or need treatment. For those holes that do, our Center for Structural Heart Disease offers highly specialized procedures that avoid open-heart surgery. We keep you safe from stroke and other problems that certain holes may cause.

Why choose Henry Ford Health for cardiac hole closure?

Our team has used minimally invasive techniques to close cardiac closes since the 1990s, offering the experience you need. We have successfully completed several hundred of these procedures in the last few years.

Minimally invasive procedures are easier on your body, with less risk for side effects and faster recovery. Learn more about what to expect if your doctor recommends a minimally invasive heart procedure at Henry Ford.

Holes in the heart and stroke risk

For some people, holes in the heart are considered a congenital condition, meaning they’re present at birth. In other cases, holes that exist during normal development don’t close as they should during early childhood.

Both types of holes can allow blood clots to travel between heart chambers, though the risk is higher for some holes. The blood clots increase your risk for stroke, as they can leave the heart and travel to the brain.

Learn more about the types of holes in the heart we treat:

• Atrial septal defect (ASD)
• Patent foramen ovale (PFO)

How does cardiac hole closure help lower your chance of stroke?

To prevent a stroke, your doctor may recommend a procedure to close the hole in your heart, especially for larger atrial septal defects. Our interventional cardiologists pioneered techniques to close cardiac holes using catheters, or thin, flexible tubes. These minimally invasive approaches allow access to holes in the heart through arteries elsewhere in the body. Doctors then use special instruments to close the hole.

While our doctors always consider a minimally invasive technique if you need treatment, not all cardiac holes can be closed with this approach.