Natural history of atrial septal defect with criteria for selection for surgery∗

Hypertensive pulmonary vascular disease in adults with secundum or sinus venosus atrial septal defect

BACKGROUND

The development of hypertensive pulmonary vascular disease (HPVD) is considered a risk factor in the long-term course of patients with secundum atrial septal defects (ASD). The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and histologic degree of HPVD and pulmonary hypertension in relation to preoperative clinical and hemodynamic data, intraoperative findings, and operative outcome in adults.

METHODS

Lung biopsies of 75 patients, mean age 44 +/- 14 years (18-71 years), with secundum ASD or sinus venosus defect including ten patients with partial anomalous pulmonary venous return were analyzed in accordance with preoperative and intraoperative findings as well as operative outcome. Lung biopsy was performed at the time of defect closure and was classified according to Heath and Edwards.

RESULTS

Structural changes of the pulmonary vasculature were found in 59% of patients; grade 3 and higher changes were present in 19%. There were no statistically significant relations between histologic findings and preoperative clinical and hemodynamic data, intraoperative findings, and operative outcome. The prevalence of moderate (32-50 mm Hg) and severe (> 50 mm Hg) systolic pulmonary hypertension was 27% and 17%, respectively. Increased systolic pulmonary arterial pressure was associated with increased pulmonary vascular resistance (p < 0.000) and patients' age (p = 0.001). Patients with a lower functional capacity had a higher prevalence of pulmonary hypertension (p = 0.011).

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of HPVD and pulmonary hypertension in adult patients with secundum ASD or sinus venosus defect is considerable. Preoperative hemodynamic data do not predict the degree of HPVD in lung biopsy. Closure is generally advised to prevent increasing pulmonary arterial pressure and decreasing functional capacity over time.

Late Surgical Closure of Secundum Type Atrial Septal Defect

Between 1968 and 1995, a total of 153 patients who were between 35 and 63 years of age (mean 49.8 years), underwent surgery for secundum type atrial septal defect. There were 78 (50.9%) males and 75 females (49.1 %). Mean left-to-right shunt ratio was calculated as 2.49. Mean pulmonary artery pressure was 50.15 mm Hg. Three patients died within 30 days of surgery, giving a hospital mortality of 1.96%. Long-term follow-up was available in 135 cases (90%). Total follow-up was 967.3 patient-years and ranged from 3 months to 11.3 years (mean 7.16 years). There were no late deaths reported. Four patients were readmitted with atrial fibrillation and 2 with pericardial effusion. In our experience, surgical closure of atrial septal defect in adults was found to be successful, safe, and with low morbidity in patients with pulmonary hypertension and congestive heart failure.

Pulmonary vascular disease in a child with atrial septal defect of the secundum type and type I glycogen storage disease

A rare combination of atrial septal defect of the secundum type and type I glycogen storage disease was seen with early fatal outcome due to rapidly progressive severe pulmonary vascular disease. Possible reasons for the unexpected, rapidly progressive pulmonary vascular disease are discussed.

Isolated atrial septal defect with pulmonary vascular obstructive disease--long-term follow-up and prediction of outcome after surgical correction

We examined the cases of 702 patients found to have isolated atrial septal defect of the secundum or sinus venosus type at catheterization from 1953 to 1978. Forty patients (6%), 34 women and six men, had pulmonary vascular obstructive disease, with a total pulmonary resistance greater than 7 U/m2; of these patients 26 (mean age 47 years) underwent surgical closure and 14 (mean age 44 years) received medical treatment. All patients were followed for at least 4 years, with a median follow-up of 12 years. At the most recent follow-up, 17 of the 40 patients were dead. Of the 22 surgically treated patients with total pulmonary resistance less than 15 U/m2, 19 were alive with significant regression of symptoms. All four surgically treated patients with total pulmonary resistance greater than or equal to 15 U/m2 were dead. Of the five medically treated patients with total pulmonary resistance less than 15 U/m2, four had died, and one was alive with significant progression of symptoms. Of the nine medically treated patients with total pulmonary resistance greater than or equal to 15 U/m2, six had died and the three survivors had progression of symptoms. In the surgically treated group, the following variables correlated with survival: total pulmonary resistance (p less than .00001), pulmonary arteriolar resistance (p less than .00001), pulmonary-to-systemic resistance ratio (p = .004), systemic arterial oxygen saturation (p = .005), and pulmonary arterial oxygen saturation (p = .007).

IN CONCLUSION

(1) Atrial septal defect with high total pulmonary resistance is uncommon and predominates in adult female patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Pulmonary hypertension in isolated secundum atrial septal defect: high frequency in young patients

Out of 709 consecutive patients with isolated secundum atrial septal defect, the pulmonary artery systolic pressure was greater than 50 mm Hg in 118 patients (17%). Pulmonary hypertension was present in 13% of patients under 10 years and in 14% aged 11 to 20 years. The Eisenmenger reaction was present in 9% of the 709 patients. The frequency of the Eisenmenger reaction was high in young patients and was not significantly different in patients in the first and second decades as compared to older patients. None of our patients with pulmonary hypertension resided at high altitude. The high frequency of pulmonary hypertension in our young patients cannot be satisfactorily explained. Autopsy studies suggest that in some, pulmonary hypertension is due to the persistence of the fetal pulmonary vascular pattern.

Atrial septal defect in the older patient. A clinical and hemodynamic study in patients operated on after age 35

Twenty-four patients over 35 years of age with a secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) had a clinical and hemodynamic assessment prior to surgical closure and a follow-up assessment an average of 6 years afterward. All were initially in functional class III or IV. Twenty-three patients had a moderate to large left-to-right shunt. Five had elevated pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR); all had moderate to severe pulmonary hypertension. Left ventricular dysfunction (LVD) was found in 17.

Following surgical closure, 22 patients showed sustained clinical improvement and were in class I or II. The mean pulmonary artery pressure fell to normal or mildly elevated values in 21. The PVR was now elevated in 14 patients, suggesting continued progression of obliterative pulmonary vascular disease. Three had small residual shunts. LVD, however, persisted after operation, which may reflect underlying myocardial pathology unrelated to the ASD.

Operative closure of ASD, therefore, is recommended for disabled patients over 35, even if they have moderate pulmonary hypertension or congestive heart failure.

EBSTEIN'S ANOMALY ASSOCIATED WITH CARDIOMYOPATHY AND PULMONARY HYPERTENSION

A patient is described with cardiomyopathy and intracavitary electrocardiographic findings typical of Ebstein's anomaly of the tricuspid valve. The cardiomyopathy was characterized by extreme thickness of the left ventricular wall on angiocardiography, elevated end-diastolic pressures of the ventricles, and prominent "a" waves in the atrial pressure pulses. Moderately severe pulmonary hypertension, which has not previously been described in Ebstein's anomaly, was also attributed to the cardiomyopathy. This case illustrates the increasing number of associations with which Ebstein's anomaly has been reported and emphasizes the importance of considering this diagnosis in planning the cardiac catheterization of patients with congenital heart disease. The necessity of demonstrating coexisting Ebstein's anomaly in patients with congenital heart disease is indicated by the formidable mortality of such patients at surgery.