What are the treatment options for a hole in the heart?

Treatment options for a hole in the heart include catheter procedures to close the hole or open heart surgery to repair the organ, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. In some cases, a hole on the heart heals on its own.

Physicians use echocardiography and coronary angiography to guide them in closing a heart defect during a catheter procedure, explains the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. During surgery, the doctor makes an incision in the chest and closes the hole with a special patch. Treatment for a hole in the heart depends on the age of the patient, the type of hole, the size of the hole and the location.