atrial septal defect (ASD)

Atrial septal defect (ASD) is the second most common congenital heart defect after ventricular septal defects and the most common to become symptomatic in adulthood.

They are characterized by an abnormal opening in the atrial septum allowing communication between the right and left atria. Due to the low pressures of the atria, the lesion is typically asymptomatic until adulthood despite 2-4 times the normal pulmonary blood flow. Gradual (high output) congestive cardiac failure eventually develops, usually becoming symptomatic by the age of 30.

Epidemiology

Atrial septal defects account for ~10% of congenital heart disease . There may be greater female predilection.

Associations

Atrial septal defects are seen in association with the following:

Clinical presentation

Most patients are asymptomatic but as cardiac failure develops they may present with shortness of breath, palpitations, and weakness . Chest auscultation classically reveals an ejection systolic murmur heard at the left upper sternal border, attributed to increased flow across the pulmonary valve rather than blood shunting across the defect itself .

ECG
  • incomplete right bundle branch block (RBBB morphology with QRS duration between 110-120 ms) 
    • increased specificity with crochetage sign in the inferior (II, III, aVF) leads
  • right precordial (V1-3) "defective T waves"
    • describes biphasic morphology, initial T wave flattening or inversion and sharp, positive upstroke to terminal positive deflection
    • peak of the T wave delayed when compared to lateral precordial leads
  • notching of the terminal upstroke of the R wave (crochetage sign) correlates with the size of ASD and implies a greater degree of shunting
  • left axis deviation
    • characteristic of ostium primum defects and anatomical distortion of the left bundle branch fascicles
    • associated first degree AV block
  • right axis deviation
    • suggests ostium secundum defect
  • low atrial ectopic rhythms
    • negative P wave polarity in lead II
    • found in sinus venosus ASDs

Pathology

Classification

There are four major types of atrial septal defect (ASD) , distinguished according to their location within the septum:

  • secundum ASD
    • 60-90% of all ASDs
    • usually an isolated abnormality
  • primum ASD
    • 5-20%
    • associated with cleft anterior mitral valve leaflet (partial atrioventricular septal defect)
  • sinus venosus
  • coronary sinus type ASD ("unroofed coronary sinus")

A patent foramen ovale (PFO) is a form of atrial septal defect.

Radiographic features

Plain radiograph

Treatment and prognosis

Atrial septal defects do not cause any impairment in cardiac function in utero and even most neonates are asymptomatic. The defect can be closed surgically or percutaneously (e.g. atrial septal occlusion device). However, careful evaluation has to be made to ensure lack of development of elevated right heart pressures or a right to left shunt before any intervention.

Complications

In approximately 10% of untreated patients, pulmonary hypertension develops. In this situation, flow through the shunt eventually reverses and becomes right to left. The patient then becomes cyanotic. This is known as Eisenmenger syndrome.

Other complications include:

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