Atrial Septal Defect (ASD)

The types of atrial septal defects are:

• Secundum: This is the most common type of ASD and occurs when the hole occurs in the middle part of the atrial septum.
• Primum: The hole develops in the septum’s lower part in this type.
• Sinus venous: It is a rare type and occurs in the wall’s upper part separating the heart chambers. This type is also linked to changes in the heart structure present at birth.
• Coronary sinus: This type is also rare and occurs when a hole grows in the wall separating the left atrium from the coronary sinus.

The atrial septum defects are mild and hard to notice in infants. Babies who have severe defects may have symptoms like:

• Stroke
• Fatigue
• Regular infections

A heart murmur is the most common symptom in childhood and children with severe defects may experience symptoms such as:

• Shortness of breath
• Irregular heartbeat
• Excessive fatigue when exercising

It is not known yet what exactly causes an atrial septal defect. This is a structural condition that happens when the heart is growing while a baby is in the womb. There can be different reasons according to healthcare experts such as:

• Using certain medications
• Environmental factors
• Lifestyle factors
• Certain medical conditions
• Genetics
• Misuse of alcohol and smoke

If an atrial septal defect is left untreated, it can cause serious complications like:

• Early death
• High blood pressure in the lung arteries or pulmonary hypertension
• Arrhythmias
• Right-sided heart failure
• Heart stroke

Small atrial septal defects aren’t usually diagnosed even after a child is born and aren’t a cause of concern usually. The condition is diagnosed when a doctor listens to the heart with a stethoscope and suspects a murmur. When the doctor detects a murmur, here are some tests commonly ordered for atrial septal defect diagnosis:

• Echocardiogram- Helps in viewing how well the blood is moving through the heart valves and heart.
• Chest X-ray- Shows the heart and lungs condition
• Electrocardiogram- Records the heart's electrical activity and detects arrhythmia
• Magnetic resource imaging scan- Helps in viewing detailed heart images through magnetic fields and radio waves
• Computed tomography scan (CT scan)- Creates comprehensive heart images and detects atrial septal defects including congenital heart defects

Around half of the atrial septal defects get repaired on their own without any treatment. The other half needs treatment either with cardiac catheterization or open heart surgery.

• Watchful waiting

Doctors usually suggest watchful waiting when an atrial septal defect is detected in a young child. Medications are prescribed to treat the symptoms during this period.

• Cardiac catheterization

A cardiac catheterization procedure is recommended by doctors to treat heart anomalies without opening the chest. A thin and flexible tube is inserted through a blood vessel in the leg or neck during this surgery. Then, to plug the hole, the doctor threads the tube to the heart and deploys a closure device.

• Open heart surgery

Open heart surgery is done early in childhood and is required when the hole is large. It is the only solution to fix the types like coronary sinus atrial defects and sinus venous.

BM Birla Heart Research Centre in Kolkata is the only cardiac healthcare service across the eastern region offering matchless patient care. We have been delivering the finest health treatment in the city to our patients and our smart technology is what makes us the best. If you are looking for an atrial septal defect treatment, then get in touch with our highly-skilled and experienced cardiologists. They will ensure a proper diagnosis of the problem and recommend the treatment that’s best for you.