Education

There is a hole between the top two chambers of the heart. The hole can be high, in the MDle or low in the wall separating the chambers. The hole allows the red and blue blood to mix together. The red blood from the high pressured left side of the heart goes across the hole to the lower pressured right side. This increases the work load of the right side of the heart. Also, red blood goes back to the lungs from the right side of the heart. Over time there can be damage to the heart and lungs from too much blood.

Surgical repair: Closing an atrial septal defect in childhood can prevent serious problems later in life. The long-term outlook is excellent. There are two approaches to closing the defect:

1. Open heart surgery. Surgery is required for patients with ostium primum and sinus venous ASD and is recommended in early childhood. Smaller defects are closed with sutures, whereas large defects require patches made of synthetic material or pericardium (the lining of the heart).
2. Catheter based closure. Patients with secundum ASD may opt for catheter-based ASD closure. From the time of ASD device implantation until approximately six months following implantation, connective tissues adhere to the device. During this time it is necessary to minimize the occurrence of platelet adhesion, therefore clopidogrel (Plavix) and aspirin are given for three and six months respectively following ASD catheter-device closure.

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