[Surgery in children with atrial septal defects without cardiac catheterization]

We describe the results of surgical repair of atrial septal defects in 36 children who did not undergo pre-op cardiac catheterization. These cases were seen at the Hospital de Cardiologia y Neumología Dr. Luis Méndez del Centro Médico Nacional. There were 24 (67%) females and twelve (33%) males. The mean age was 6.4 +/- 2.4 years with a range from three to thirteen. All cases had auscultatory findings typical of atrial septal defect. Five patients with associated tricuspid murmur (chest film showed grade I cardiomegaly in 21 (58.3 per cent), grade II cardiomegaly in fifteen (41.7 percent). Pulmonary artery shadow was normal in 24 (66.6 percent) and increased in twelve (33.3%). Pulmonary blood flow was increased in all of them. Electrocardiogram showed sinus rhythm in 35 (97.2%). In one instance left atrial rhythm; all EKGs demonstrated right axis deviation, complete right bundle branch block and right ventricular hypertrophy with diastolic overload. Only three had right atrial hypertrophy. The M-mode echocardiogram showed right ventricular dilatation in all and paradoxically septal motion in 26 (72.2%). Two-dimensional echo with the subxiphoid view allowed direct visualization of the defect in all cases. We performed contrast echocardiogram in eight cases and Doppler echocardiogram in six of them. Cardiac surgery findings were ostium secundum atrial septal defect in 34 (94.4%). Two of them also had partial anomalous venous connection. All had uneventful recovery. We conclude that in typical atrial septal defects operative repair is feasible without prior cardiac catheterization.