Atrial Septal Defects

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Important

It is possible that the main title of the report Atrial Septal Defects is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.

Synonyms

• ASD
• Atrioseptal Defects

Disorder Subdivisions

• Ostium Primum Defect (endocardial cushion defects included)
• Ostium Secundum Defect
• Sinus Venosus

General Discussion

Atrial septal defects (ASDs) are a group of rare disorders of the heart that are present at birth (congenital) and involve a hole in the wall (septum) that separates the two upper-chambers (atria) of the heart.



Normally the heart has four chambers: two upper chambers known as atria that are separated from each other by a fibrous partition known as the atrial septum and two lower chambers known as ventricles that are separated from each other by the ventricular septum. Valves connect the atria (left and right) to their respective ventricles. A small opening between the two atria (foramen ovale) is present at birth. Shortly after birth, the atrial septum gradually grows and seals this opening. In infants with atrial septal defects, the atrial septum may not close properly or may be malformed during fetal development. In these disorders, the opening (called patent foramen ovale) between the atria persists long after it should be closed, resulting in an increase in the workload on the right side of the heart and excessive blood flow to the lungs.



Initially, the symptoms associated with atrial septal defects may be absent or so mild that they may go unnoticed. Frequently this disorder is not recognized until school age or even adulthood. In adults with undetected atrial septal defects, various respiratory problems and/or heart failure may develop.



Several forms of atrial septal defects are recognized. They are classified according to their location in the septum. The term primum refers to defects that are in the lower part of the septum. The term secundum refers to defects that are located in the middle of the septum, and the term sinus venosus refers to defects in the upper part of the septum.

Resources

March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation

1275 Mamaroneck Avenue

White Plains, NY 10605

Tel: (914)428-7100

Fax: (914)997-4763

Tel: (888)663-4637

Email: Askus@marchofdimes.com

Internet: http://www.marchofdimes.com



American Heart Association

National Center

7272 Greenville Avenue

Dallas, TX 75231-4596

Tel: (214)373-6300

Fax: (214)373-0268

Tel: (800)242-8721

Email: inquire@heart.org

Internet: http://www.americanheart.org



Congenital Heart Anomalies, Support, Education, & Resources

2112 North Wilkins Road

Swanton, OH 43558

Tel: (419)825-5575

Fax: (419)825-2880

Email: chaser@compuserve.com

Internet: http://www.csun.edu/~hcmth011/chaser/chaser-news.html



American Lung Association

61 Broadway, 6th Floor

New York, NY 10006

USA

Tel: 2123158700

Fax: 2123158870

Tel: 8005864872

Internet: http://www.lungusa.org



NIH/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Information Center

P.O. Box 30105

Bethesda, MD 20824-0105

Tel: (301)592-8573

Fax: (301)251-1223

Email: nhlbiinfo@rover.nhlbi.nih.gov



Kids With Heart National Association for Children's Heart Disorders, Inc.

1578 Careful Dr

Green Bay, WI 54304-2941

Tel: (920)498-0058

Fax: (920)498-0058

Tel: (800)538-5390

Email: kidswithheart@greenbaynet.com

Internet: http://www.kidswithheart.org



Little Hearts, Inc.

P.O. Box 171

Cromwell, CT 06416

USA

Tel: 8606350006

Fax: 8606350006

Tel: 8664354673

Email: info@littlehearts.org

Internet: http://www.littlehearts.org



Congenital Heart Information Network

1561 Clark Dr

Yardley, PA 19067

Tel: (215)493-3068

Fax: (215)493-3068

Email: mb@tchin.org

Internet: http://www.tchin.org



MUMS (Mothers United for Moral Support, Inc) National Parent-to-Parent Network

150 Custer Court

Green Bay, WI 54301-1243

USA

Tel: 9203365333

Fax: 9203390995

Tel: 8773365333

Email: mums@netnet.net

Internet: http://www.netnet.net/mums/

For a Complete Report

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ® (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html

The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.

It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report.

This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.

For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org

Last Updated:  3/12/2008

Copyright  1986, 1994, 1999, 2006 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.

Last updated:	March 12, 2008