Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov)
Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov)
Israel, Tel Aviv
Sami Viskin
39 years of experience
Clinic is certified :
Dr. Livia Kapusta specializes in pediatric cardiology, focusing on congenital heart conditions at Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov).
Dr. David (Dudi) Mishali, MD, is Director of Pediatric and Congenital Cardiothoracic Surgery at Sheba Medical Center. He treats infants and children with congenital heart defects. His work includes rare, high-risk anomalies and complex newborn reconstructions.
He trained internationally. He completed his residency at Rabin Medical Center and clinical fellowships in cardiac surgery at the Cleveland Clinic and in congenital pediatric cardiothoracic surgery at UCSF. He is board certified in cardiothoracic surgery. He developed and implemented minimally invasive methods that reduce surgical trauma and improve cosmetic results.
He is a Senior Lecturer at Tel Aviv University’s Sackler Faculty of Medicine. He has written many peer-reviewed papers and book chapters, including on point-of-care testing in children during cardiopulmonary bypass and on accessory mitral valve tissue. He holds a leadership role at a hospital ranked among the world’s top 10.
Specializes in Valvular Heart Disease and Mitral Valve procedures at Hadassah Medical Center.
The doctor is a Medical Oncologist and Radiotherapist with 33 years of experience, specializing in Oncology and Radiotherapy. They graduated from Hadassah University Hospital in Jerusalem, Israel, and hold qualifications in both Oncology and Radiotherapy.
Currently serving as the Head of the Gastrointestinal Cancer Center, the doctor is also a Senior Physician in the Oncology Department at Hadassah University Hospital. They have completed board exams in Oncology and Radiotherapy, and are a member of several professional societies, including the Israel Society of Clinical Oncology and the Israel Cancer Association.
An atrial septal defect is a congenital hole in the wall separating the heart chambers. This opening allows oxygen-rich blood to leak into oxygen-poor regions. It forces the right heart side to work harder. This process increases blood pressure within the lung vessels over time.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Israeli cardiology centers manage massive patient volumes, with Hadassah Medical Center treating 1,000,000 patients annually. Large-scale data from clinics like Sourasky, which performs 34,000 surgeries yearly, suggests that high-volume centers provide more precise diagnostics. Experts like Dr. David Mishaali utilize specialized minimally invasive reconstructions to resolve these defects safely. Choosing a center with university affiliations often ensures access to the latest digital imaging and robotic assistance.
Patient Consensus: Many adults discover this condition incidentally during tests for unexplained fatigue or heart flutters. Parents observe that children might not show clear distress but may struggle with weight gain or frequent lung infections.
Leaving a moderate-to-large atrial septal defect (ASD) untreated causes chronic volume overload in the right heart chambers. This leads to serious cardiovascular complications by adulthood. Primary risks include pulmonary hypertension, right-sided heart failure, and atrial fibrillation. It also significantly increases ischemic stroke risk.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Israeli specialists like Dr. Livia Kapusta at Sourasky Medical Center emphasize early detection through advanced imaging. Data shows closing defects before age 40 helps prevent permanent pulmonary damage. Large centers like Hadassah serve over 1,000,000 patients, offering extensive experience in identifying subtle volume overload. Specialists recommend closure for moderate-to-large defects even if you feel fine now.
Patient Consensus: Patients note that signs like fatigue and breathlessness often feel like normal aging. Many wish they had realized sooner that chronic exhaustion was actually heart strain.
Israeli hospitals perform atrial septal defect closure using transcatheter intervention, minimally invasive cardiac surgery, or conventional open-heart surgery. Selection depends on defect size and location. Surgeons utilize specialized mesh plugs for 95% to 97% success rates in secundum defects within JCI-accredited facilities.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Israeli pediatric centers show a high degree of specialization in minimally invasive techniques. Dr. David Mishaali at Sheba Medical Center has developed unique surgical approaches to reduce physical trauma. This expertise allows complex reconstruction in infants while minimizing large scars often seen in traditional surgery. At centers like Sourasky, Dr. Livia Kapusta uses intravascular ultrasound to ensure precise device placement during non-surgical repairs.
Patient Consensus: Patients find that device-based closures allow for a quick return home within 48 hours. Those requiring open surgery emphasize prioritizing hospitals with high surgical volumes to ensure smoother recovery and better scar management.
Israel leading specialists for Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) include Dr. Livia Kapusta and Dr. David Mishaali. They operate in JCI-accredited centers like Sourasky and Sheba. These experts specialize in percutaneous catheter-based closures and minimally invasive surgical repairs for congenital heart conditions.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Israeli pediatric cardiac surgery is concentrated in high-volume university centers like Sourasky and Hadassah. Sourasky alone performs over 34,000 operations annually. This high procedural volume is a strong indicator of clinical safety and predictable patient outcomes. You should look for centers with hybrid catheterization labs where surgeons and interventionalists work together.
Patient Consensus: Parents find that smaller defects under 5mm often close on their own. It is vital to confirm the defect size before choosing intervention. Many families note that checking the surgical team volume is more important than individual names. Monitoring for rhythm changes after the procedure is a key part of the recovery process.
Recovery after atrial septal defect (ASD) treatment in Israel typically involves a hospital stay of 1 to 5 days. Patients undergoing transcatheter closure often resume light activities within 48 hours. Heart surgeons in JCI-accredited facilities like Sourasky Medical Center utilize minimally invasive techniques to accelerate healing.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Israeli centers like Hadassah and Sourasky prioritize rapid discharge, often within 24 hours for catheter procedures. This efficiency stems from a high national hospital occupancy rate of 94%. We see regional leaders like Dr. David Mishaali successfully applying minimally invasive methods that significantly reduce post-operative fatigue compared to traditional surgery.
Patient Consensus: Patients often report a surprising dip in energy or mood during the first month. Many note that avoiding heavy lifting for 30 days is vital to prevent bruising at the catheter site.
Not every atrial septal defect requires surgery. Small defects under 5 millimeters often close naturally. Specialists typically monitor these with regular echocardiograms. Treatment is only necessary if the hole causes heart strain, symptoms, or fails to close by early childhood.
Bookimed Expert Insight: Israeli centers like Sourasky Medical Center and Hadassah manage over 1,000,000 patients annually. This high volume allows pediatric cardiologists like Dr. Livia Kapusta to favor conservative monitoring for small defects. Data shows Israeli specialists prioritize minimally invasive catheter-based closure over traditional surgery whenever anatomical borders allow.
Patient Consensus: Patients emphasize the value of getting serial echocardiograms to track the defect size over time. Many note that asymptomatic small holes can remain stable for decades without needing any intervention.