[Functional state of the cardiovascular system in patients operated on for a secondary atrial septal defect]

The functional state of the cardiovascular system in 64 adults with a secondary atrial septal defect and in 120 patients who were operated on for this disease was studied by means of the physical exercise test on a bicycle ergometer. In the late postoperative period, the physical working capacity of patients who underwent operation before the age of 20 years was 92% with respect to that of healthy individuals. The physical working capacity of patients in whom the atrial septal defect was closed after the age of 20 was only 76% as compared to the capacity of healthy individuals. The study showed surgical management of an atrial septal defect to be highly effective. The best functional results in the late postoperative period were produced in patients who were operated on before the age of 20.