Question 1

how bad is an atrial septal defect?

Accepted Answer

ASD: It is variable, depending on the size of  the opening and the amount of blood traveling across it.  Sometimes they are diagnosed in childhood, others are picked up in adults.  They are closed if the size is significant either surgically or using catheters.  But if they are small they can be followed and monitored with echocardiograms.

Question 2

what are the tests for atrial septal defect?

Accepted Answer

Echocardiogram: Echocardiogram is an ultrasound of the heart that can see if there is a hole between the 2 upper chambers of the heart (atrial septal defect). A cardiac catherization can also determine if ASD exist, but is invasive.

Question 3

what's it mean to have atrial septal defect?

Accepted Answer

Depends...: Depends on the size and the amount of blood it is allowing to leak from the left to the right heart chambers which in turn causes strain on the right heart.  This can cause shortness of breath and arrhythmias.  Patient with medium size defects may not have any problems until their middle age and patients with smaller defects can lead a full healthy life without even knowing it.

Question 4

what are the symptoms of atrial septal defect?

Accepted Answer

Usually none: Most people with asds do not have symptoms. Most children are diagnosed when sent to a cardiologist for a murmur. However, as people age, they can develop right heart failure with swelling of their extremities, liver enlargement, and decreased ability to exercise. Wit hthe most severe cases, patients turn blue. Some young patients get more frequent and/or more severe respiratory infections.

Question 5

what sort of problem is an atrial septal defect?

Accepted Answer

ASD: ASD is a congenital (present since birth) heart defect in which the wall that separates the 2 upper chambers (atria) is perforated allowing the abnormal mixing of oxygenated and un-oxygenated blood. If large enough, it can lead to rhythm disturbances and heart failure but if small, no treatment is necessary. Echo and MRI are very accurate in assessing the severity. It is correctable/curable.

Question 6

is ventricular or atrial septal defect hereditary?

Accepted Answer

Most cases no: The chances of being born with a heart defect are approximately 8 per every thousand deliveries (a little under 1%).  Most babies born with a heart defect (asd, vsd or any of a multitude of others) have no family members with heart disease.  Now, when there is a first line family member with a heart defect the chances increase to about 2-3%, so there may be some genetic component.

Question 7

is an atrial septal defect repair surgery dangerous?

Accepted Answer

Heart surgery risk: All open heart surgery is dangerous. Many asds are now closed without surgery, using a catheter placed in a leg vein.

Question 8

hello docs, is asd (atrial septal defect) hereditary?

Accepted Answer

In some cases: Some cases of atrial septal defect have a genetic component.  An example is holt-oram syndrome which is caused by a mutation in the tbx5 gene.  Tbx5 codes for a protein called t-box 5, which is a transcription factor active during fetal development and is important in the proper development of the heart and the upper extremities.  Almost certainly, there are other important genes.

Question 9

atrial septal defect, how frequently should i see a specialist?

Accepted Answer

It depends: If you have not already, you will need at least an echocardiogram (sound wave test) to look at the size of the defect and the function of the chambers. The size, the amount and direction of flow going across the defect, and whether or not you have add transient or permanent strokes are the most common issues evaluated in determining whether such a defect needs to be closed.

Question 10

can you tell me how much time  does an atrial septal defect surgical repair take approximately.?

Accepted Answer

Varies: For a typical asd, the heart portion of the surgery takes less than an hour.  Preparing the patient for surgery in the or and closing the chest after surgery takes more time.  Total time in the or usually is less than four hours.  Some asds are closed at cardiac catheterization and can typically be accomplished in less than two or three hours.

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Doctor answers about:

Atrial septal defect pathophysiology

A member asked:

How bad is an atrial septal defect?

A member asked:

What are the tests for atrial septal defect?

A member asked:

What's it mean to have atrial septal defect?

A member asked:

What are the symptoms of atrial septal defect?

A member asked:

What sort of problem is an atrial septal defect?

A member asked:

Is ventricular or atrial septal defect hereditary?

A member asked:

Is an atrial septal defect repair surgery dangerous?

A member asked:

Hello docs, is asd (atrial septal defect) hereditary?

A member asked:

Atrial septal defect, how frequently should i see a specialist?

A member asked:

Can you tell me how much time does an atrial septal defect surgical repair take approximately.?

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