Atrial Septal Defect

Atrial defects are one of the most common heart defects.

A normal heart has four separate chambers and the upper chambers, atria, are divided with the septum.

An atrial septal defect occurs when there is a hole in the septum. Blood then flows through the hole, which causes an increased amount of blood volume in the lungs.

Children that have this birth defect do not usually have any symptoms. A child with a very large hole may note shortness of breath, fatigue and poor growth.

Atrial septal defect can be detected at a prenatal visit via ultrasound examination or fetal echocardiography. Newborns are usually diagnosed with this condition after a doctor hears a murmur during early physical examinations. An echocardiograph, echocardiogram or x-ray can confirm the diagnosis. If the hole does not close on its own, surgery will be needed to correct the problem.