Affiliation:
1. From the Cardiopulmonary Unit, Presbyterian Hospital and the Institute of Medical Sciences, San Francisco, California.
Abstract
A series of 128 consecutive cases of atrial septal defect in adult patients was analyzed from the standpoint of the course and prognosis. The ages of the patients ranged from 18 to 67 years and the ratio of men to women was 1 to 2. Age distribution when compared with life expectancy tables indicated reduced life expectancy. Clinical analysis revealed that three quarters of the patients were symptomatic, but symptoms were mild to moderate and usually nonprogressive. Hemodynamic analysis revealed significant pulmonary hypertension in 22% of the series, of which 15% had high pulmonary vascular resistance, and significant arterial hypoxemia in 14%. The most serious risk factor in atrial septal defect is severe pulmonary hypertension. This complication, which develops in about 14% of patients with atrial septal defect when they are between 20 and 40 years of age, may be rapidly progressive, leading to shunt reversal, disability, and death. Once established, pulmonary hypertension may progress even when the defect is surgically closed. Heart failure occurs usually in older individuals and is associated mostly with chronic atrial arrhythmias rather than pulmonary hypertension.
Publisher
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Subject
Physiology (medical),Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
Reference19 articles.
1. Atrial septal defect;BEDFORD D. E.;Proc Roy Soc Med,1961
2. Histoire naturelle des communications interauriculaires;HIMBERT J.;Arch Mal Coeur,1965
3. Atrial septal defect-secundum type;ZAVER A. G.;Circulation,1965
4. De la stenose mitrale avec communication interauriculaire;LUTEMBACHER R.;Coeur,1916
5. Arch Mal
Cited by
267 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献