Angiology: Open Access
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Types and Causes of Atrial Septal Defect: Brief Note

Brown Lee^{* *}Correspondence: Brown Lee, Department of Cardiology, University of Arizona, Arizona, USA, Email:

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Description

Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) is a common congenital heart condition that occurs when there is a hole in the wall between the two upper chambers of the heart, the left and right atria. This hole allows oxygen-rich blood from the left atrium to flow into the right atrium, increasing the pressure on the heart. ASD can be asymptomatic, or it can cause a range of symptoms, including shortness of breath, fatigue, palpitations, and swelling of the legs or feet. In severe cases, ASD can lead to complications, such as heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, and stroke.

Types of ASD

There are several types of ASD, based on the location and size of the hole in the atrial septum. The most common type of ASD is

Secundum ASD: This occurs when there is a hole in the center of the atrial septum. This type of ASD is usually small and may not cause any symptoms.

Primum ASD: It is another type of ASD that occurs in the lower part of the atrial septum. It is often associated with other heart defects, such as mitral valve abnormalities. Sinus venosus ASD is a rare type of ASD that occurs in the upper part of the atrial septum, near the opening of the inferior vena cava. This type of ASD is also associated with other heart defects, such as partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection.

Causes of ASD

ASD is a congenital heart condition, which means that it is present at birth. It occurs during fetal development when the atrial septum fails to form properly. The exact cause of ASD is not known, but it is thought to be due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Studies have shown that certain genetic conditions, such as Down syndrome, are associated with an increased risk of ASD. Environmental factors, such as maternal alcohol consumption or viral infections during pregnancy, may also increase the risk of ASD.

Symptoms of ASD

ASD can be asymptomatic or may cause a range of symptoms, depending on the size and location of the hole. Small ASDs may not cause any symptoms and may be detected incidentally during routine physical examinations or diagnostic tests. In cases where the hole is larger, ASD can cause a range of symptoms, like shortness of breath especially during exercise or exertion, fatigue or weakness, palpitations or irregular heartbeat, swelling of the legs or feet, recurrent respiratory infections such as pneumonia or bronchitis, stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA), heart murmur which is a whooshing or swishing sound heard during a physical examination.

Diagnosis of ASD

ASD may be diagnosed during routine physical examinations or through diagnostic tests. During a physical examination, the doctor may listen to the heart with a stethoscope and detect the presence of a heart murmur. Diagnostic tests used to diagnose ASD include Electrocardiogram (ECG) which measures the electrical activity of the heart, echocardiogram which uses sound waves to create images of the heart, chest X-ray which can show an enlarged heart or other abnormalities.

Conclusion

In severe cases, ASD can lead to complications, such as heart failure which occurs when the heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body's needs, pulmonary hypertension which is high blood pressure in the lungs, arrhythmias which are abnormal heart rhythms and stroke which occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted.