Atrial septal defect

Defect of the interatrial septum refers to congenital heart pathologies. This defect is manifested by an anomaly in the upper chambers of the organ. Defect of the interatrial septum is characterized by incomplete closure of the wall between the right and left atriums.

The norm is the separation of the heart chambers from each other. In this case, there is a valve between each chamber and its corresponding ventricle. Thanks to the valve, blood circulation is carried out in one direction. In order for the blood to bypass the lungs, the developing fetus has a hole between the right and left chamber. At birth, the hole is closed, and blood circulation occurs through the lungs. In the developed normal body there are no openings.

Defect of the interatrial septum in children is characterized by the presence of an open hole. This provokes the flow of blood from the left chamber to the right, which, as a result, can cause problems in the lungs.

Atrial septal defect is detected in about four out of a hundred newborns. Minor or moderate anomalies, as a rule, do not cause any symptoms or complications. Insignificant defects in 90% of all cases overgrow themselves. In some cases, anomalies remain throughout life and are identified in adulthood.

Taking into account the location of the hole, the defect of the interatrial septum is divided secondary and primary.

The anomaly of the primary type is characterized by the location of the hole in the lower part. Secondary is an anomaly, in which the hole is in the upper and / or middle part.

The clinical picture of states of anomaly consists of a combination of symptoms when the right heart departments are overloaded. This is due to the constant presence of large amounts of blood in them. However, it should be noted the presence of increased compensatory possibilities of the cardiovascular system. In this regard, signs of the disease manifested in the first months of life, only one in one hundred newborns who are diagnosed with an atrial septal defect. In general, the manifestation of symptoms is observed in the adolescent period.

The disease manifests itself by rapid fatigue and fatigue, increased sweating, shortness of breath or shortness of breath, shortness of breath during physical activity. Symptoms are also infections of the chronic type in the respiratory tract, poor growth, poor appetite, heart palpitations and manifestations of heart murmurs.

Precise diagnosis of anomalies is carried out by means of radiography, electrocardiography, cardiac catheterization and echocardiography. With the help of the ECG, a right-sided deviation of the electric cardiac axis and manifestation of an overload (hypertrophy) of the organ is detected. With the help of the radiograph, pulmonary changes are determined. An echocardiogram allows you to visualize an anomaly, in particular, through the introduction of echo contrast agents. Carrying out a catheterization based on the results of analyzes of various heart cavities allows to determine the significance of changes in the physiological type.

The course of treatment of a defect is selected taking into account the clinical manifestations and dimensions of the anomaly.

Serious anomalies are characterized by a large diameter in the hole. This has a very negative effect on the patient's condition. In most of these cases, surgical treatment is prescribed.

Operative intervention involves "stitching" the hole. This method is suitable for small dimensions (not more than three centimeters) of the hole.

As practice shows, after the implementation of these measures, there is a significant improvement in the patients' condition, normalization of the pressure of the small circle of circulation, shortness of breath, normalization of the ECG.