Atrial septal defect

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Sections available in full article Introduction, Presenting signs, Acute presentation, Age predisposition, Cost considerations, Special risks (e.g. anesthetic), Pathogenesis, Etiology, Pathophysiology, Timecourse (incubation, duration), Diagnosis, Presenting problems, Client history, Clinical signs, Diagnostic investigation, Confirmation of diagnosis, Gross autopsy findings, Differential diagnosis, Treatment, Standard treatment, Monitoring, Sequelae, Prognosis, Expected response to treatment, Reasons for treatment failure, Sources, Publications, Vetstream contributor(s),
Contributors Dr Phil Fox DVM DipACVIM DipECVIM ACVECC
Dr Serena Brownlie BVM&S PhD CertSAC MRCVS
Dr Philip K Nicholls BVSc BSc PhD MRCVS FRCPath
Synonyms ASD

Introduction

  • Uncommon, often associated with other defects. Rare as isolated defect.
  • Cause : anomalous formation of cardiac septa.
  • Signs : usually asymptomatic; rarely a clinical problem as shunting velocity low due to small pressure difference between atria.
  • Diagnosis : clinical examination, radiography, electrocardiography, 2-D and Doppler echocardiography.
  • Treatment : medical treatment of congestive heart failure  Congestive heart failure  , surgery to close defect.
  • Prognosis : good in asymptomatic cases; other cases depend on complexity of defects.

Diagnosis

Clinical signs

  • Murmur  Cardiac sounds: overview  (rare) forward of left heart base: systolic ejection (relative pulmonic stenosis).
  • Left heart base murmur: split S2 (delayed closure of pulmonic valve); difficult to appreciate in the cat.
  • Signs of CHF  Congestive heart failure  .
  • Cyanosis if right to left shunt (rare).

Diagnosis

Differential diagnosis

  • See also congestive heart disease  Congestive heart failure  .
  • Other causes of systolic murmurs  Cardiac sounds: overview  .

Sequelae

Prognosis

  • Mild : excellent.
  • Severe : fair - depends on associated congenital cardiac defects.

Expected response to treatment

  • Control of congestive heart failure (if treatment successful).

Reasons for treatment failure

  • Standard  Standard reasons for failure in a treatment  .
  • Degree of severity.

Sources

Publications

Refereed papers

  • Moise N S (1989)Doppler echocardiographic evaluation of congenital cardiac disease - An introduction.J Vet Intern Med3(4), 195-207.
  • Bonagura J Det al(1985)Echocardiography - congenital heart disease.Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract15(6), 1195-1208.
  • Farrow C S (1984)Atrial septal defect in a kitten.Mod Vet Pract65(4), 281-282.

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