Atrial Septal Defect
An atrial septal defect (ASD) occurs when there is a hole in the wall (septum) that divides the upper chambers (atria) of the heart.
As a baby’s heart develops during pregnancy, there are normally several openings in the wall dividing the upper chambers of the heart. These usually close during pregnancy or shortly after birth. Some small atrial septal defects may close on their own during childhood, and never cause any issues.
However, larger, long-term atrial septal defects can cause damage to the heart and lungs.
Types of ASD:
Types of atrial septal defects include:
- Secundum: This is the most common type of ASD. It occurs in the middle of the wall between the upper heart chambers. This wall is called the atrial septum.
- Primum: This type of ASD affects the lower part of the wall between the upper heart chambers. It might occur with other heart problems present at birth.
- Sinus venosus: This is a rare type of ASD. It most often happens in the upper part of the wall between the heart chambers. It often occurs with other heart structure changes present at birth.
- Coronary sinus: The coronary sinus is part of the vein system of the heart. In this rare type of ASD, part of the wall between the coronary sinus and the left upper heart chamber is missing.
What are the symptoms of an atrial septal defect?
A child born with an atrial septal defect may not have any symptoms. They may also develop symptoms later in life.
Atrial septal defect symptoms may include:
- Shortness of breath, especially when exercising.
- Tiredness, especially with activity.
- Swelling of the legs, feet or belly area.
- Irregular heartbeats, also called arrhythmias.
- Skipped heartbeats or feelings of a quick, pounding or fluttering heartbeat, called palpitations.
What kind of treatment options are there?
Treatment for an atrial septal defect will depend on the size of the hole in the heart, and whether there are any other heart problems present.
Some atrial septal defect will close on their own as a child grows.
Even if an ASD doesn’t close on its own, treatment beyond regular checkups may not be needed.
Medications can help reduce symptoms, but won’t repair an atrial septal defect. These medicines may include:
- Beta blockers to control the heartbeat.
- Blood thinners, called anticoagulants, to lower the risk of blood clots.
- Diuretics to reduce fluid buildup in the lungs and other parts of the body.
In some instances, surgery or other procedures may be recommended to repair medium to large atrial septal defects. An ASD repair will involve closing the hole in the heart.
