[14] Atrial Septal Defect Flashcards

1
Q

What is an atrial septal defect (ASD)?

A

A heart defect where blood flows between the two atria of the heart

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are the two main types of ASD?

A
  • Secundum ASD

- Partial atrioventricular septal defects (AVSD or primum ASD)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is the more common type of ASD?

A

Secundum ASD

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Secundum ASD accounts for what percentage of ASD’s?

A

80%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is a secundum ASD?

A

A defect of the atrioventricular septum involving the foramen ovale

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is the foramen ovale?

A

A foetal cardiac shunt that allows flow of blood from the right to left atrium

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What may cause a secundum ASD?

A
  • Failure of the septum secundum to develop

- Enlarged foramen ovale

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is a partial AVSD?

A

A defect in the inferior atrial septum (septum primum) and a regurgitant left atrioventricular valve leading to left to right communication

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What are the risk factors for ASD?

A
  • Female
  • Family history
  • Maternal alcohol consumption
  • Down’s Syndrome
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is the common presentation of an ASD?

A

Commonly no symptoms

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

If symptoms are present, what might they be?

A
  • Recurrent chest infections
  • Wheeze
  • Arrhythmias
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What are the physical signs of an ASD?

A
  • Ejection systolic murmur

- Fixed and widely split second heart sound

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What sound is specifically heard in a partial AVSD?

A

Apical pansystolic murmur

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Where is the ejection systolic murmur best heard?

A

Upper left sternal edge

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What causes the ejection systolic murmur in ASD?

A

Increased flow across the pulmonary valve

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What causes the increased flow across the pulmonary valve?

A

Left to right shunt

17
Q

What causes the fixed, widely split second heart sound?

A

Right ventricular stroke volume being equal in inspiration and expiration

18
Q

What causes the apical pansystolic murmur in AVSD?

A

Atrioventricular valve regurgitation

19
Q

What investigations may be useful in assessing ASD?

A
  • CXR
  • ECG
  • Echo
20
Q

Which of the investigations is the mainstay of diagnosis?

A

Echo

21
Q

Why is an echo most useful in diagnosis?

A

It will delineate the anatomy

22
Q

What might a CXR show in ASD?

A
  • Cardiomegaly
  • Enlarged pulmonary arteries
  • Increased pulmonary vascular markings
23
Q

What might an ECG show in secundum ASD?

A
  • Partial right bundle branch block

- Right axis deviation

24
Q

What causes the right axis deviation seen on an ECG in secundum ASD?

A

Right ventricular enlargement

25
Q

What might an ECG show in partial AVSD?

A

A ‘superior’ QRS axis (mainly negative in aVF)

26
Q

What are some differentials for ASD?

A
  • Partial anomalous pulmonary venous drainage
  • VSD
  • PDA
27
Q

When is treatment require in ASD?

A

When it is significant enough to cause symptoms

28
Q

When is treatment normally carried out?

A

Around 3-5 years of age

29
Q

What does early treatment help to prevent?

A

Right heart failure and arrhythmias later in life

30
Q

How are secundum ASDs usually treated?

A

Cardiac catheterisation with insertion of an occlusion device

31
Q

How are primum ASDs usually treated?

A

Surgical correction

32
Q

What are the complications of ASDs?

A
  • Right atrial enlargement
  • Cardiac arrhythmias
  • Heart failure