Atrial Septal Defect
Iana Hernandez
What is Atrial Septal Defect?
Atrial Septal Defect is a birth defect of the heart in which there is a hole in the wall (septum) that divides the upper chambers in the heart (atria). The hole may close on its own or may require surgery.
How Does The Child Get It?
In some cases, the tendency to develop a ASD might be genetic. Genetic syndromes can cause extra or missing pieces of chromosomes that can be associated with ASD. For the vast majority of children with a defect, however, there's no clear cause.
Sympyoms
- poor appetite
- poor growth
- fatigue
- shortness of breath
- lung problems and infections, such as pneumonia
Treatment
Treatment will depend on the child's age and the size, location, and severity of the defect.If surgical repair for ASD is necessary, a child will undergo open-heart surgery. In most small children the hole closes on its own without treatment or surgery.
Life Expectancy
Life expectancy depends on the age of the paitent, their age, and how severe the condition is. The life expectancy is increasing as the years go by due to technology and other situations.
Facts
- ASD occur in 6 percent to 8 of all children born with congenital heart disease
- For unknown reasons, girls have ASD twice as often as boys
- There are 4 major types of ASD: secundum, primum, venous, and sinus.