HF 7501

Caring for Your Child After Percutaneous Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) or Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) Closure

Your child had an ASD or PFO closure on ______ through the right / left femoral vein.


Incision Care

  • Your child may shower after 24 hours. Remove the bandage over the site before taking a shower.

  • Gently clean the site with soap and water. Pat it dry. Cover the site with a Band-Aid®. Do this for three days.

  • Keep the site clean and dry.


Activities

For the next 5 days:

  • No lifting more than 10 pounds.

  • No straining.

  • No vigorous activity.

  • No soaking in bathtubs or swimming.


Diet

  • Your child should be able to eat a normal diet the next morning.

  • Your child may eat or drink the night of the procedure if they feel fine.

  • Some children are not hungry or feel sick to their stomach the night of the procedure. We suggest a light diet, if hungry.


What to Expect

  • Soreness or tenderness at the site. This may last for one week.

  • Small amount of bloody drainage at the site.

  • There may be a bruise at the site. This could take 2-3 weeks to go away.

  • A small lump (dime to quarter size) may form at the site. This could last up to 6 weeks.


Pain Control

Your child may have either Tylenol® every 4-6 hours or Motrin®/ibuprofen every 6-8 hours.


Signs of Infection

  • Redness, swelling or drainage at the site.

  • Pain that does not go away with medicine.

  • Fever over 101 degrees F for two readings taken 4 hours apart.


When to Call

Call your child’s doctor right away if you notice:

  • Bleeding or sudden swelling at the site. Apply direct pressure to the site and call for help. Keep pressure at the site until you get help.

  • Any signs of infection.

  • Severe pain.

  • Chest pain, palpitations, or increased shortness of breath.


Return to School/Daycare

Your child may return to school/daycare on __________________________________.


Medicines

Your child will need to take baby aspirin every day for the next 6 months or longer. Some children also take Plavix® (clopidogrel). For the next 6 months, your child will need to take antibiotics before certain medical or dental procedures. The doctor will decide if your child needs to keep taking these medicines after the 6 months.

Your child should keep taking their normal medicines. Tell the doctor if there are any side effects. Do not stop aspirin or Plavix® (clopidogrel) without talking to the heart doctor first.


Follow-Up Visits

Your child will have a follow-up visit with echocardiogram and ECG at 1 and 6 months to see how the device and heart are working.


Who to Call

Pediatric and Adult Congenital Cardiology Clinic
(608) 263-6420

Toll free number: 1-800-323-8942.

After hours, nights, weekends, and holidays, the paging operator will answer this number. Ask for the pediatric cardiologist on call. Leave your name and phone number with the area code. The doctor will call you back.