Atrial septal defects rarely cause symptoms in preschool-aged children and are often found incidentally during medical examinations. A small atrial septal defect does not affect the patient’s well-being and therefore does not require treatment. A large defect may lead to right ventricular strain in middle age. Symptoms such as shortness of breath and fatigue typically appear in adulthood. Atrial septal defects that burden the heart are usually closed after the age of three.
Under favorable conditions, atrial septal defects can be closed without surgery through cardiac catheterization. A thin catheter is inserted through the groin veins into the heart, and a closure device is placed through the catheter into the defect. Nowadays, more than half of atrial septal defects can be closed without surgery. Surgical correction is needed if the defect is very large or if there are multiple defects in the atrial septum.
