Secundum atrial septal defect before and after surgery

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Pediatric Cardiology
• Cardiac Surgery

Background:

• Secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) is a common congenital heart defect.
• Surgical intervention is often necessary to correct ASD and prevent complications.
• Understanding the clinical presentation and surgical outcomes is crucial for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To retrospectively analyze the clinical characteristics, surgical outcomes, and long-term follow-up of patients with secundum atrial septal defect.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of surgical closure in improving patient condition and growth.
• To identify predictors of surgical success and potential complications.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of twenty patients with secundum atrial septal defect who underwent open heart surgery.
• Clinical examination, electrocardiography, echocardiography, and cardiac catheterization were utilized.
• Assessment of pre- and post-operative physical growth, and long-term follow-up data.

Main Results:

• The majority of patients presented with typical cardiac findings and electrocardiographic abnormalities, including right ventricular enlargement and cardiomegaly.
• Cardiac catheterization revealed significant pulmonary-systemic flow ratios (Qp/Qs) averaging 2.9.
• Post-surgery, most patients showed improved weight percentile, but height percentile increase was minimal. A 10% mortality rate was observed, with persistent electrocardiographic findings in some survivors.

Conclusions:

• Surgical closure of secundum atrial septal defect is effective in improving certain clinical parameters, but long-term physical growth may be limited.
• Persistent electrocardiographic abnormalities and cardiomegaly can be observed post-surgery.
• While mortality is low, careful long-term follow-up is warranted for patients undergoing ASD repair.