What is a atrial septal defect?

Answer 1

An atrial septal defect (often called an ASD) is a hole in the wall separating the top two chambers of a person's heart (called the atria). Many are diagnosed in childhood, but there are quite a few that go undetected until adulthood. Over time, this can lead to damage to the lungs since blood prefers to go through the hole and back through the low-resistance lungs instead of going out to the body.

Atrial septal defects used to be closed surgically, but now, many can be closed with special catheters and devices such as the Amplatzer or StarFlex devices so that the chest and heart do not need to be opened!

For more information:
http://www.childrenshospital.org/az/Site477/printerfriendlypageS477P0.html

Answer 2

An atrial septal defect (ASD) is a hole in the wall between the two upper chambers of your heart (atria). The condition is present from birth (congenital). Small atrial septal defects may close on their own during infancy or early childhood.

Large and long-standing atrial septal defects can damage your heart and lungs. Small defects may never cause a problem and may be found incidentally. An adult who has had an undetected atrial septal defect for decades may have a shortened life span from heart failure or high blood pressure that affects the arteries in the lungs (pulmonary hypertension). Surgery may be necessary to repair atrial septal defects to prevent complications.

Answer 3

A defect between the right and left atrium of the heart [atrial]. The septum [septal] separates the right and left atrium - If there is a defect in the structure of the septum (in this case, there are often one or more holes in the septum), the blood entering the heart and the blood being pumped away from the heart may go back and forth between the atria instead of circulating normally. This affects the body's ability to supply it cells with the oxygen they require.