Atrial Septal Defect
Alternate Names : ASD
DefinitionA defect of the upper chambers of the heart (atria) where the wall between the right and left atria does not close completely. This defect is present at birth (congenital).
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Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
Atrial septal defect (ASD) is a congenital heart defect. In fetal circulation there is normally an opening between the two atria (the upper chambers of the heart) to allow blood to bypass the lungs. This opening usually closes about the time the baby is born. If the ASD is persistent, blood continues to flow from the left to the right atria. This is called a shunt.
ASD is present in 4 out of 100,000 people. When no other congenital defect coexists, symptoms may be absent, particularly in children. Symptoms usually have manifested by age 30. Individuals with ASD are at an increased risk for developing a number of complications including:
- infective endocarditis (a bacterial infection of the heart)
- heart failure
- an abnormal fast heart rhythm known as atrial fibrilation
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