Delayed ASD closure could benefit asymptomatic children

Pippa Murdie

This article has no abstract so we have provided the first paragraph of the full text.

Atrial septal defect (ASD) can cause chronic right chamber volume overload, leading to arrhythmias and impaired left ventricular function. ASD closure has been shown to be less effective after long-term volume overload, leading to the belief that early intervention is best, even in asymptomatic patients. The procedure is associated with risks, however, especially in the very young. Santoro et al. suggest that up to early adulthood, age does not affect the extent of cardiac remodeling following percutaneous ASD closure, and that the benefits of delayed closure could outweigh any potential risks.

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