What is an Atrial Septal Defect?

An atrial septal defect or ASD is an opening present in the septum between the atria or the two upper chambers of the heart. This defect causes blood to leak from the left upper chamber to the right upper chamber and further into the pulmonary arteries. This extra blood being pumped into the lung arteries causes the heart and lungs to work harder and results in the arteries becoming damaged over time. This is a congenital condition and often shows no signs or symptoms during childhood.

Every person is born with an opening between the heart’s upper chambers. It is a normal foetal condition that allows blood to be routed away from the lungs. The opening is no longer necessary after birth and typically becomes smaller in size or closes completely within a few months. In some cases, the opening is large and does not close completely after birth. This results in an atrial septal defect. The causes of this condition are unclear, although specialists believe that genetic factors are sometimes responsible.

How can an Atrial Septal Defect be repaired?

If the atrial septal defect is small in size, it does not affect the heart and lungs to a great extent. There are no medications that can reduce the size of an atrial septal defect or hasten its closing.

In cases of large atrial septal defects, doctors will recommend open-heart surgery or cardiac catheterisation to close the opening. This depends on the location and size of the atrial septal defect. If it is located in an unusual position or if there other cardiac defects, the atrial septal defect can only be closed through surgery and not with cardiac catheterisation.

Early detection is key in repairing an atrial septal defect. Closing a large sized atrial septal defect through surgery is best done during early childhood, even in cases of minor symptoms. This prevents the development of more serious life-threatening symptoms as the patient grows older.

Consult a cardiologist for more details on atrial septal defects and how they can be treated.