Congenital Heart Defects - Atrial Septal Defect (ASD)

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Normal Heart		1. Opening between the Atria

The septum is a wall that separates the heart’s left and right sides. Septal defects are sometimes called a “hole” in the heart.

A defect between the heart’s two upper chambers (the atria) is called an atrial septal defect (ASD). When there is a large defect between the atria, a large amount of oxygenrich (red) blood leaks from the heart’s left side back to the right side. Then this blood is pumped back to the lungs, despite already having been refreshed with oxygen. This is ineffi cient, because already-oxygenated blood displaces blood that needs oxygen. Many people with this defect have few, if any, symptoms. Surgical Therapy Closing an atrial septal defect in childhood can prevent serious problems later in life. The long-term outlook is excellent. If atrial septal defects are diagnosed in adulthood, the defect is also repaired. Rarely, the defect is left unrepaired if there’s pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs). Your cardiologist can determine if the defect should be closed.