Atrial septal defect should be consulted with the Department of Cardiology.

Written by Tang Li
Cardiology
Updated on September 10, 2024
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Atrial septal defect is a common congenital heart disease in childhood, and it is also the most common congenital heart disease in adulthood. The incidence rate of atrial septal defects is about 1/1500 live births, accounting for 5%-10% of all congenital heart diseases, and it is more common in females. Most children with atrial septal defect, in addition to being prone to respiratory infections such as colds, may have no obvious symptoms and their activities are not limited. It is generally not until adolescence that symptoms like shortness of breath, palpitations, and fatigue appear. Patients with atrial septal defects should seek treatment in departments such as cardiology, cardiovascular surgery, thoracic surgery, or pediatric cardiology.

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Written by Di Zhi Yong
Cardiology
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Does an asymptomatic atrial septal defect require treatment?

If the patient has a ventricular septal defect and shows no obvious symptoms, it is possible to initially observe the condition. Firstly, this is a type of congenital heart disease, and it is recommended that the patient undergo a cardiac echocardiography to further confirm the diagnosis. If the defect is relatively large, surgery might sometimes be recommended. If the defect is not very large and the patient shows no obvious symptoms, there might be no need for immediate intervention, and regular monitoring would suffice. During this period, it is still important to monitor changes in the patient's blood pressure and heart rate. If the heart rate is too fast or the blood pressure is high, it might sometimes be necessary to actively treat these issues, possibly using medication to improve symptoms. In terms of treatment, surgery is generally advised as the main approach since medication often does not yield very effective results for this condition.

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Written by Tang Li
Cardiology
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Atrial septal defect should be consulted with the Department of Cardiology.

Atrial septal defect is a common congenital heart disease in childhood, and it is also the most common congenital heart disease in adulthood. The incidence rate of atrial septal defects is about 1/1500 live births, accounting for 5%-10% of all congenital heart diseases, and it is more common in females. Most children with atrial septal defect, in addition to being prone to respiratory infections such as colds, may have no obvious symptoms and their activities are not limited. It is generally not until adolescence that symptoms like shortness of breath, palpitations, and fatigue appear. Patients with atrial septal defects should seek treatment in departments such as cardiology, cardiovascular surgery, thoracic surgery, or pediatric cardiology.

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Written by Li Hai Wen
Cardiology
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Is a 12mm atrial septal defect serious?

Atrial septal defect (ASD) is a fairly common congenital heart disease in pediatric cardiology. For infants and young children, atrial septal defects can be categorized based on their size into three types: A large atrial septal defect typically refers to a defect larger than 10 millimeters. A medium atrial septal defect generally refers to a defect that ranges from 5 to 10 millimeters. A small atrial septal defect usually refers to a defect that is less than 5 millimeters. Therefore, for an infant or young child, an atrial septal defect measuring 12 millimeters would indeed be considered quite severe.

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Written by Di Zhi Yong
Cardiology
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Can babies with ventricular septal defect sleep on their stomachs?

If the child has an atrial septal defect, it is not recommended for them to sleep on their stomach because this position can increase the burden on the heart, leading to an overload of the heart. This is a type of congenital heart disease. Currently, surgical treatment is primarily recommended, as early surgical intervention can alleviate the symptoms in children. Patients with ventricular septal defects typically display signs of ischemia and hypoxia, which can affect a child’s growth and development. It is advised to periodically re-examine the heart through echocardiography. If the defect is relatively large, early surgical treatment is recommended. It is also important to actively prevent upper respiratory infections, which can be beneficial for the child. In terms of sleeping posture, it is not recommended to sleep on the stomach; the best position is lying on the left side, as this can help alleviate the burden on the child’s heart.

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Written by Di Zhi Yong
Cardiology
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What should be paid attention to daily with an atrial septal defect?

If the patient has an atrial septal defect, it is advised that the patient should adhere to a light diet and regularly visit the hospital for electrocardiogram and echocardiography checks. If the defect is relatively large, I personally recommend surgical treatment for the patient, as it can effectively alleviate the current condition. After all, while drug treatment has some effect, there is a risk of recurrence. Surgery can permanently treat atrial septal defects and improve the patient’s symptoms. If the patient experiences difficulty breathing, this needs to be addressed. Additionally, it is important to keep warm, avoid catching cold, and monitor changes in the patient’s heart rate, blood pressure, and pulse.