Related articles: Interatrial defect
Definition
The interatrial defect is a congenital cardiac malformation (present from birth) that concerns the membrane interposed between the right and left atrium. In fact, various types of defects can be distinguished, but the two most common are the ostium secundum and the patent foramen ovale .
The ostium secundum is a real hole in the interatrial septum that allows the blood to pass from the left to the right atrium. The patent foramen ovale, on the other hand, consists of a separation of the membrane of the septum (the blocks that compose it divide, leaving a passage). As a result, blood tends to pass from the right atrium to the left at certain times or in certain situations (physical exertion, coughing, sneezing, etc.).
Some defects of the interatrial septum close spontaneously during the first years of life.
Medium-large size persistent malformations result in shunts with overload of the right heart sections.
Most common symptoms and signs *
- Arrhythmia
- Asthenia
- Cardiomegaly
- palpitations
- Cyanosis
- Dyspnoea
- Chest pain
- Atrial fibrillation
- Atrial flutter
- Hypoxia
- Thinness
- Pallor
- Heart murmur
- Sweating
- tachypnoea
Further indications
The interatrial defect, in general, does not cause problems in children, but may become evident in adulthood due to the appearance of some symptoms: fatigue, shortness of breath and alterations of the normal rhythm of the heart (atrial arrhythmias). The persistence of an ostium secundum can lead to a progressive increase in volume on the right side of the heart, with an increase in the pulmonary blood flow compared to the systemic one. Long-term complications therefore include pulmonary hypertension, right ventricular hypertrophy and heart failure.
The patent foramen ovale, on the other hand, may be responsible for cerebral, coronary or peripheral ischemic events. The passage of microemboli from the venous circulation through the defect of the interatrial septum, can therefore lead to a stroke or a heart attack.
The diagnosis of the interatrial defect is suggested by a cardiac objective examination, a chest radiograph and an ECG, but is confirmed by echocardiography.
The therapy consists in the observation, surgical repair or transcatheter closure of the cardiac malformation.
