[Interatrial communications of the ostium secundum type in the adult (author's transl)]

On the basis of personal observations made during their first year of activity in cardiac surgery, the authors review the existing literature concerning surgical indications for interatrial communications in the adult. While they recognize that there is a strong correlation between patient age and mortality, they argue that corrective surgery for such defects can be done also in the older patients, with due regard to limiting criteria relative to pulmonary arterial pressure, pulmonary arteriolar resistance, and cardiac failure.