What does atrial septal defect mean?

Written by Li Hai Wen
Cardiology
Updated on September 12, 2024
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Atrial septal defect is a relatively common type of congenital heart disease encountered clinically. In simple terms, the human heart has four chambers: the left atrium, right atrium, left ventricle, and right ventricle. Between the left and right atria, there is a structure called the atrial septum, which separates the two atria. If there is a hole in this septum, this condition is referred to as an atrial septal defect. Atrial septal defects are common congenital heart conditions, and when the defect is severe, it often accompanies heart failure and other complications. Under such circumstances, it is crucial to visit a cardiologist for a formal assessment to determine the necessity and approach to treatment.

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Written by Tang Li
Cardiology
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Can a ventricular septal defect heal itself?

Traditional views suggest that the best age to close atrial septal defects (ASDs) is between four and five years old, during preschool. The possibility of spontaneous closure of atrial septal defects larger than 8 millimeters in diameter is very low. If the defect is less than 4 millimeters, there is a possibility of healing. Currently, it is advocated that if an atrial septal defect still exists after the age of one year, and there is evident systolic murmur and fixed splitting of the second heart sound, or if heart catheterization and echocardiography show left-to-right shunting greater than 1.5:1, indicating a defect diameter of five to six millimeters or more, early surgery should be pursued to stop the left-to-right shunt to avoid causing pulmonary hypertension and endocarditis.

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Written by Xie Zhi Hong
Cardiology
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Is a ventricular septal defect with pulmonary hypertension mild or severe?

The most common complication of atrial septal defect is pulmonary hypertension, which can be classified as mild, moderate, or severe. Generally, mild pulmonary hypertension is not a major issue and is not considered very serious. However, moderate to severe pulmonary hypertension often accompanies repeated coughing, shortness of breath after exercise, or difficulty breathing. This situation is relatively serious and it is advisable to undergo surgery as soon as possible. If the condition reaches a severe stage, pulmonary hypertension could continuously increase. Furthermore, in patients with severe pulmonary hypertension, closing the atrial septum can lead to severe breathing difficulties and increased shortness of breath. Therefore, it is crucial to closely monitor patients with pulmonary hypertension.

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Written by Tang Li
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Imaging manifestations of atrial septal defect

The imaging characteristics of ventricular septal defects are as follows: 1. Small defects: Normal cardiac silhouette, or left ventricular hypertrophy, with mild pulmonary congestion. 2. Medium defects: Left ventricular hypertrophy or biventricular hypertrophy, enlarged pulmonary artery segment, smaller aortic knob. 3. Large defects: Both ventricles enlarged, left atrium enlarged, prominent pulmonary artery segment, significant pulmonary congestion. When pulmonary hypertension with right-to-left shunting occurs, the pulmonary artery segment is markedly prominent, but the lung fields are clear, and the heart shadow is smaller than before.

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Written by Li Hai Wen
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Postoperative precautions for atrial septal defect surgery

Ventricular septal defect surgery is often divided into surgical operations and interventional treatments by the Department of Internal Medicine. For interventional treatments, it is important to rest in bed for 24 hours afterwards. Also, the site of the puncture needs to be immobilized for at least eight hours, so it is important to regularly check the heart with an echocardiogram after the surgery. After surgical operations, it is important to maintain a balanced diet with easily digestible foods. Within a month after surgery, try to avoid strenuous activities, and regularly check the heart with an echocardiogram under the guidance of a doctor.

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Written by Li Hai Wen
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Is a 12mm atrial septal defect serious?

Atrial septal defect (ASD) is a fairly common congenital heart disease in pediatric cardiology. For infants and young children, atrial septal defects can be categorized based on their size into three types: A large atrial septal defect typically refers to a defect larger than 10 millimeters. A medium atrial septal defect generally refers to a defect that ranges from 5 to 10 millimeters. A small atrial septal defect usually refers to a defect that is less than 5 millimeters. Therefore, for an infant or young child, an atrial septal defect measuring 12 millimeters would indeed be considered quite severe.