Atrial Septum Defects: Right to Left Shunt?!
Question:
Atrial Septum Defects: Right to Left Shunt?
I have a question for any doctors, surgeons or other qualified individuals. I am going in for a definative test next week, but I probably have a right-to-left shunt across my atrial septum. I'm wondering what types of surgeries are used to fix this and how dangerous they are.
I am 20, very healthy, have low bp, low resting heartrate (I'm an endurance athlete). I have some breathing issues, my O2 sat drops during exercise, and the right side of my heart is enlarged.
What can I expect?
Answers:
hi there.
The heart has four chambers,- two atria (right and left), and two ventricules, (right and left). Blood from the superior & inferior vena cave goes to the right atrium, to the right ventricle, then to the lungs, then to the left atrium, and lastly to the left ventricule, before it is ejected out of the heart.
Atrial septal defect (ASD) simply means there is a defect and a connection between the two atria(atrium). So, some blood that is suppose to go the left ventricle, flows back to the right atrium.
It is a left to right shunt- since blood from the left atrium(with the higher pressure) will go the right atrium.
Not all ASD needs surgery. generally, if the QPQS is less than 1.5:1, person can be observed.
If the ASD is to be treated, surgical closure by means of a patch or primary repair can easily be done with low risk of mortality nor morbidity.
Anothe form of closure is the endovascular route.