Atrial Septal Defect (ASD), more commonly known as 'Hole in the Heart' is a congenital heart disease. Depending on the location of hole in the atrial wall, Atrial Septal Defect can be of three types – Ostium Secundum, Ostium Primum and Sinus Venosus. The surgery is conducted by sewing the hole closed, or by sewing a patch of dacron material or a piece of the sac that surrounds the heart (the pericardium), over the opening. Some patients can have the defect fixed by having a clam-shaped plug placed over the opening.

Duration
After the surgery for Atrial Septal Defect, the child patient spends a few hours in the ICU under observation for immediate post-operative complications followed by five to seven days of hospitalization. Complete recovery takes three months.

If a patient’s coronary artery is blocked, a new channel is created to bypass the blockage and this procedure is called Bypass Graft Surgery. The procedure involves using a working blood vessel from another part of the body to channel blood around the blocked area.

Less severe blockage can be treated by angioplasty and stenting. Usually, severe blockage usually requires bypass surgery. Coronary Artery Bypass Graft is needed if angioplasty proves unsuccessful or there are severe blockages in multiple major vessels. Minimally invasive coronary artery bypass surgery (MIDCAB) can also be performed on the patient that involves a significantly smaller incision.

Duration
The length of the surgery varies with different patient. It usually takes four to six hours. After the surgery, the patient is shifted to intensive care unit for a day or two of close monitoring. The patient is further transferred to the nursing unit for five to six days.

Most patients return to normal health within six to eight weeks after the surgery. However, some patients might take longer. Patients are put on a specialized postoperative rehabilitation and preventive program which includes specific exercises; dietary and lifestyle changes.

Various Electrophysiology (EP) studies are performed to diagnose cardiac problems such as arrhythmias, or abnormal heart rates. These are caused by locating small areas of abnormal heart tissue that interrupt the heart's normal electrical system.

Duration
Most EP studies are completed within two hours. However, if the physician decides to continue and attempt to correct the arrhythmia, a complete procedure can last up to six hours or more. After the procedure, the patient is taken to a recovery room and kept under observation for some time. Sometimes, the patient is allowed to go home on the day of the procedure, but sometimes overnight stay in the hospital is required. The patient returns to normal routine activities within two-three weeks after the procedure.

In Coronary Angioplasty, a balloon is used to open narrowed or blocked blood vessels of the heart. Coronary Angioplasty is also known as Balloon Angioplasty, Coronary Artery Angioplasty, Cardiac Angioplasty, Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA) and Heart Artery Dilatation.

The Coronary Angioplasty procedure improves the blood flow through the coronary arteries and to the heart tissue in about 90% of patients and may eliminate the need for Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery (CABG). This results in relief from chest pain and improved exercise capacity.

Duration
The average hospital stay for this procedure is less than two days. Complete recovery might take a week or less. Patients are generally able to walk within six hours after the procedure.

A cardiac pacemaker is a small device that helps the heart beat more evenly. If something prevents the human heart pacemaker cells from doing their job, the heart may not beat normally. The doctors may then put in a man-made pacemaker made up of electrodes and a battery. Different types of cardiac pacemakers are – Permanent (Internal), Temporary (External), Demand, Single Chamber, Dual Chamber, Adaptive-rate or rate responsive pacemaker etc.

Duration
Pacemaker surgery is often done using a local anesthetic and the patient is relieved from the hospital on the same day. The entire procedure for Heart Pacemaker implantation may take about 2 hours. The patient can return to most of the normal daily activities a few days after the Heart Pacemaker implantation procedure.

Heart Valve Replacement is a surgical procedure which involves removing a damaged valve from the heart and substituting it by grafts from patient’s tissues or replacing them by artificial heart valves. Various types of artificial valves are used for Heart Valve Replacement – mechanical valves, tissue valves, homograft valves etc.

Duration
The Heart Valve Replacement surgery takes three to five hours. The patient needs to spend=s one to three days in the intensive care unit after the surgery so that the working of the heart and circulation can be monitored closely. After being released from the hospital, the patient should join a recommended cardiac rehabilitation program. The patient can return to normal activities within two months of the surgery.

Balloon Valvuloplasty is a procedure in which patient’s narrowed heart valve is stretched open with a small balloon which is inserted and inflated to stretch and open a narrowed heart valve.

Valvuloplasty is recommended for patients who have mitral or pulmonary valve stenosis and thus cannot undergo an open heart surgery. Valvuloplasty is also a procedure of choice in older or debilitated patients with aortic stenosis who are considered high risk for the major surgeries of heart. It is also indicated in children with congenital aortic stenosis, until the child is old enough to have Heart Valve Replacement surgery.

Duration
After the surgery, the patient is sent to the recovery room for monitoring vital signs (such as pulse and breathing) and heart sounds. The patient can resume normal activities following discharge from the hospital.