Follow-up of Secundum ASD, Muscular VSD, or PDA Diagnosed During Newborn Hospitalization

The ideal follow-up of neonates who have a secundum atrial septal defect (ASD), muscular ventricular septal defect (VSD) or patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) remains uncertain.

Newborns with findings limited to a secundum ASD, muscular VSD and/or PDA on their last birth hospital echocardiogram and at least one outpatient follow-up echocardiogram performed between 9-1-17 and 9-1-21 were evaluated and patient follow-up assessed through 9-1-23.

95 babies met inclusion criteria. 43 babies had a secundum ASD, 41 had a muscular VSD and 54 had a PDA at newborn hospital discharge. 39/95 had more than one intracardiac shunt. 56 were discharged from care, 26 were still in follow-up and 13 were lost to recommended follow-up.No patients required intervention during the follow-up period of 2 to 6 years. Of those 43 with a secundum ASD 16 (37.2%) had demonstrated closure of the ASD and 13 (30.2%) were discharged from care with and ASD < 3.5 mm in diameter. 3/43 infants with secundum ASD had a defect large enough to easily warrant further follow-up.

Even in this group who had early clinical follow-up recommended by a pediatric cardiologist, no baby discharged from their birth hospitalization with a secundum ASD, muscular VSD or PDA needed any intervention from 2 to 6 years of follow-up. Ongoing follow-up with echocardiography of those infants with a secundum ASD is of greater value than of those with muscular VSD or PDA.