Cardiology and Angiology: An International Journal

Background: An atrial septal defect (ASD) is a persistent interatrial communication. It is distinct from a patent foramen ovale wherein there is a flap with intermittent communication. The aim of this work was to assess prevalence of mitral valve regurge or prolapse and left atrial volume in patients with secundum type ASD.

Methods: This prospective study was carried out at the cardiovascular department, Tanta University Hospitals on 140 patients either adult or children who were diagnosed as atrial septal defect by 2-D echocardiography. They were subjected to detailed history, detailed clinical examination, chest x-ray and echocardiography (2-D echo & Doppler).

Results: 95% of patients were trivial or mild mitral regurgitation, 3.6% were moderate and 1.4% were severe. Cause of mitral valve regurgitation was 2.86% prolapse, 1.43% rheumatic and 0.71 dysplastic. Left atrial enlargement was found in 2.1% of patients. Mean LA diameter was 34.68 ± 3.9 mm, mean LA volume was 45.75 ± 3.44 ml and mean LA volume index was 24.14 ± 2.97 ml/m2. 1.43% of patients have history of rheumatic fever. 51.4% of patients presented with fatigue, 45.7% presented with palpitation, 41.4% of the patients presented with exertional dyspnea and 22.8% presented with tachypnea.

Conclusions: The prevalence of mitral regurgitation is low in secundum ASD. Mitral regurgitation associated with secundum atrial septal defect could exist as a coexistent lesion, its recognition is important and most of them could be repaired with satisfactory results. Also, the left atrial volume was not affected except in sever mitral regurgitation.