Emma Willis Reveals Secret Surgery for ‘Hole in the Heart’ Hidden in Thousands.
Emma Willis shocked fans today, revealing she underwent surgery after discovering she had a hole in her heart. In an Instagram post, the 49-year-old TV presenter shared that she recently had ‘keyhole heart surgery’ at London’s Royal Brompton Hospital. Despite being diagnosed just last year, she had been ‘blissfully unaware’ of the condition, living with it since birth.
A huge thank you to the amazing team at Royal Brompton Hospital for their incredible care and support,” Emma shared. “A few weeks ago, I had keyhole heart surgery, which feels strange to even say out loud. From the investigations last year to the diagnosis and surgery, they were amazing, as was @mattjwillis, who never left my side. It turns out I’ve been going about my life for 48 years, completely unaware I had a hole in my heart. Isn’t it crazy what’s happening in our bodies that we don’t even know about?”
A hole in the heart, or atrial septal defect (ASD), is a gap in the wall between the two upper chambers of the heart.
This condition allows oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor blood to mix, instead of being kept separate, as it flows from the heart to the body and lungs. People like Emma can live their entire adult life without knowing they have the issue, though there are some subtle warning signs.
ASD is a congenital heart defect, meaning it’s present from birth. The only noticeable sign at birth is often a heart murmur, an unusual sound caused by increased blood flow to the lungs.
Children with ASD typically experience mild symptoms but may be more prone to chest infections and occasional breathlessness, particularly during exercise. Other hidden signs can include fatigue, being underweight, and irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias).
In adults, common symptoms include shortness of breath, difficulty exercising for long periods, fatigue, irregular or extra heartbeats, fainting, and lung infections.
The British Heart Foundation notes that there is currently no medication available to shrink the ASD or close it faster than it would naturally.
ASDs can only be repaired through heart procedures.
“Some ASDs are very small and may never cause problems or require treatment, while larger ASDs do need intervention,” they explain.
For patients with a large ASD or those experiencing symptoms, surgery is often recommended—either keyhole or open-heart surgery to close the hole.
Keyhole heart surgery, like the procedure Emma had, involves making small incisions in the chest instead of cutting through the breastbone as in traditional open-heart surgery. The surgeon accesses the heart through these incisions, offering a less invasive approach with fewer complications and a quicker recovery.
After surgery, most children do not need additional operations and can go on to live normal, healthy lives.
However, if left untreated, heart holes can lead to pulmonary hypertension—higher pressure in the lungs—because the excess blood from the right atrium forces the lungs to work harder, damaging the lung arteries.
The charity also warns that other serious complications can include leaky heart valves, heart failure, or even strokes.
In the UK, around 13 babies are born each day with a congenital heart defect, and 60 years ago, most of them wouldn’t have survived their first year.
Thanks to medical research, more than 80% of babies born with a heart defect now live to adulthood.
In a heartfelt Instagram post, Emma expressed her gratitude to her husband Matt and the staff at the Royal Brompton Hospital for their care.
She continued, “What amazes me even more is the incredible advancements in modern medicine, and the remarkable people who save, fix, and support us every single day.
“Some of those people are Dr. Alexander Lyon, who investigated like a true detective, and Professor Wei Li, an echocardiogram expert.
“Catrina, Carl, and Tim, who kept me calm and made me laugh as they put me to sleep.
“Marcus, Janet, Jayne, Hannah, and Reem, who monitored me at different stages.”
“Paulette, who was always ready for a chat, gave the best hugs, and shares my love for cinnamon slices!
“There was a lovely woman with me in recovery, but I was so out of it I can’t remember her name (I’m so sorry!) and my surgeon, Dr. Ee Ling Heng.
“She was recommended as ‘a spectacular pair of hands,’ but honestly, she’s so much more than that.
“Her ease and warmth made me feel instantly comfortable, all while being incredibly professional and informative. I ask a million questions, and she answered them with the patience of a saint.”
