Also known as the Rashkind procedure, a balloon atrial septostomy is a catheter-based procedure that widens an existing hole in the wall (septum) between the two upper chambers of the heart (atria). This hole, which can be present in infants at birth, is called an atrial septal defect (ASD). By widening the defect, oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor blood can mix more freely.

Under normal circumstances, oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor blood should not mix. However, babies born with certain heart defects do not receive enough oxygen-rich blood. As a result, the infant tends to have a bluish tint (cyanosis) to the skin, lips, fingernails and other parts of the body. This condition is often called blue baby. A successful balloon atrial septostomy is a nonsurgical procedure that widens the ASD in order to improve the availability and circulation of oxygen-rich blood until all the heart defects present can be surgically repaired. As a result of the balloon atrial septostomy, the baby’s color returns to a more natural, healthier tone.