Abstract 13374: Larger Atria and Increased Atrial Filling Pressures in Corrected Atrial Septal Defect Patients

Abstract

Introduction: After atrial septal defect (ASD) correction, pulmonary arterial pressures drop and the right-sided chambers start to remodel. Full normalization may not occur, which can explain the increased morbidity and mortality observed later in life. We described cardiac physiology in adults with a corrected ASD in order to understand the long-term morbidity and mortality. Hypothesis: ASD patients have enlarged right atria and increased pulmonary arterial pressures despite correction. Methods: Participants (percutaneously (n=19) and surgically (n=19) corrected ASD patients and 11 controls of similar age) underwent echocardiography, International Physical Activity Questionnaire, right heart catheterization, cardiopulmonary exercise test, and Holter-monitoring 15-20 years after ASD correction as part of a larger study. Echocardiographic measurements and invasive pressures obtained at rest are reported. Results: Right and left atrial end-systolic volumes, volume index, and filling pressures are higher in corrected ASD patients (particularly the surgically corrected) when compared with controls. Conclusion: ASD patients (particularly surgically corrected) have higher atrial volumes compared with healthy matched controls 15-20 years after correction, while still within the normal range. During systole, the peak atrial pressures are increased in ASD corrected patients, which correlate well with the atrial volumes seen on echocardiography. These findings show that cardiac remodeling has occurred post-correction, but full normalization is not reached. The differences in atrial size and filling pressure in corrected ASD compared to that in controls may be a marker of ASDs leading to myocardial disease and explain why ASD patients experience increased morbidity and mortality later in life.