Atrial Septal Defect

Atrial Septal Defect

Signs and Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment

Signs and Symptoms

Small holes caused by atrial septal defects (ASD) may close on their own by the time a child is 2 years old. But a large ASD can cause several problems.

First, the heart works harder because it pumps extra blood to the lungs. This causes the right side of the heart to enlarge and may result in irregular heartbeats called arrhythmias.

It also may cause congestive heart failure, but usually not until a person reaches middle age.

Third, extra blood flow will damage the lung's blood vessels. All ASDs larger than a few millimeters in diameter should be closed to prevent these problems.

Symptoms include difficulty feeding, limited ability to exercise, poor weight gain, rapid breathing and shortness of breath. These symptoms may not develop until middle age. Many children with atrial septal defects don't have any symptoms. Often, a child's ASD is discovered during a regular physical exam when a doctor hears a heart murmur.

Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Children's Hospital.
Last updated May 8, 2007