Atrial Septal Defect

separates the right and left sides of The septum is the wall that the heart. A hole in the wall between the two upper chambers is called an atrial septal defect, or ASD. This is one of the simplest forms of congenital heart disease, and was one of the congenital heart defects to be repaired surgically.

Normally, blood entering the right side of the heart stays on the right side (this is low oxygen blood), and blood on the left side of the heart stays on the left side (this is oxygen rich blood) which is then pumped to the body. When a defect or "hole" is present between the atria (or upper chambers), some oxygen rich blood leaks back to the right side of the heart. It then goes back to the lungs even though it is already rich in oxygen. Because of this, there is a significant increase in the blood that goes to the lungs. Over the course of several years, this may impair the function of both the heart and the lungs, resulting in a markedly foreshortened life expectancy.

This defect is usually corrected with open heart surgery to restore normal blood circulation.

Learn more about ASD