Atrial septal defect complications: Difference between revisions
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===Atrial septal defect and pulmonary hypertension=== | ===Atrial septal defect and pulmonary hypertension=== | ||
15-20% of atrial septal defect patients develop [[pulmonary hypertension]]. | 15-20% of atrial septal defect patients develop [[pulmonary hypertension]]. Although rare in children and adolescents, [[pulmonary arterial hypertension]] is observed in approximately 50% of patients over the age of 40. The development of [[Eisenmenger's syndrome]] can result in reversal of the original left-to-right shunt which may switch to become a right-to-left shunt. Right-to-left shunting can in turn lead to deoxygenation ([[hypoxemia]] and [[cyanosis]]). | ||
===Atrial septal defect and right heart failure=== | ===Atrial septal defect and right heart failure=== | ||
Revision as of 13:27, 3 September 2011
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Atrial Septal Defect Microchapters | |
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Treatment | |
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Surgery | |
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Special Scenarios | |
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Case Studies | |
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Atrial septal defect complications On the Web | |
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American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Atrial septal defect complications | |
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Risk calculators and risk factors for Atrial septal defect complications | |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief: Priyamvada Singh, M.B.B.S. [[2]]; Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [3]; Assistant Editor(s)-In-Chief: Kristin Feeney, B.S. [[4]]
Overview
Atrial septal defect is associated with complications such as atrial fibrillation, pulmonary hypertension, heart failure, and stroke.
Atrial septal defect and atrial fibrillation
50-60% of atrial septal defect patients over the age of 40 will develop atrial fibrillation. Late-onset atrial fibrillation is associated with both morbidity and mortality. Anticoagulation may lower the mortality risk.
Atrial septal defect and pulmonary hypertension
15-20% of atrial septal defect patients develop pulmonary hypertension. Although rare in children and adolescents, pulmonary arterial hypertension is observed in approximately 50% of patients over the age of 40. The development of Eisenmenger's syndrome can result in reversal of the original left-to-right shunt which may switch to become a right-to-left shunt. Right-to-left shunting can in turn lead to deoxygenation (hypoxemia and cyanosis).
Atrial septal defect and right heart failure
Due to the nature of the defect, atrial septal defect patients of all ages experience strain on the right-heart complex. Patients may experience heart failure as a result of the cardiac volume overload the right side of the heart experiences during left-to-right shunting.
Atrial septal defect and stroke
Even without surgery, as many as 5-10% of all atrial septal defect patients experience thromboembolic events such as stroke and transient ischemia. Research suggests that paradoxical emboli in atrial septal defect patients is mutually exclusive of defect size and can potentially occur in all patients.