[Natural and modified history of atrial communication of the ostium secundum type]

We examined the cases of 151 patients found to have atrial septal ostium secundum type, isolated or with association of partial anomalous pulmonary venous drainage, at catheterization from 1971 to 1988. This patients are the 6.5% of the 2,322 children diagnosed of congenital heart disease by catheterization and angiography in our hospital in this period of time. The mean follow-up are 10 years. Only 5 children, the 3.3%, are symptomatic in early childhood and failed to respond adequately to conservative treatment and required operation in the first two years of life. Four of this 5 children are pulmonary hypertension. A total of 139 children underwent surgical correction at a mean age of 6.5 years. The final actuarial survival rate are the 97.29% in the total group and the 97.8% in the operated group. No cases of pulmonary vascular obstructive disease has been observed.