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Congenital heart disease
Original article
The unnatural history of an atrial septal defect: Longitudinal 35 year follow up after surgical closure at young age
  1. Judith A A E Cuypers1,
  2. Petra Opić1,
  3. Myrthe E Menting1,
  4. Elisabeth M W J Utens2,
  5. Maarten Witsenburg1,
  6. Wim A Helbing3,
  7. Annemien E van den Bosch1,
  8. Mohamed Ouhlous4,
  9. Ron T van Domburg1,
  10. Folkert J Meijboom5,
  11. Ad J J C Bogers6,
  12. Jolien W Roos-Hesselink1
  1. 1Department of Cardiology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
  2. 2Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychology, Erasmus MC-Sophia, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
  3. 3Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Erasmus MC-Sophia, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
  4. 4Department of Radiology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
  5. 5Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
  6. 6Department of Cardio-thoracic Surgery, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
  1. Correspondence to Dr Judith A A E Cuypers, Department of Cardiology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Thoraxcenter, Room BA 308, s'Gravendijkwal 230, Rotterdam 3015 CE, The Netherlands; j.cuypers{at}erasmusmc.nl

Abstract

Objective To describe the very long-term outcome after surgical closure of an atrial septal defect (ASD).

Design Longitudinal cohort study of 135 consecutive patients who underwent surgical ASD repair at age <15 years between 1968 and 1980. The study protocol included ECG, echocardiography, exercise testing, N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic hormone, Holter monitoring and cardiac MRI.

Main outcome measures Survival, major events (cardiac reinterventions, stroke, symptomatic arrhythmia or heart failure) and ventricular function.

Results After 35 years (range 30–41), survival status was obtained in 131 of 135 patients (97%): five died (4%), including two sudden deaths in the last decade. Fourteen patients (16%) had symptomatic supraventricular tachyarrhythmias and six (6%) had a pacemaker implanted which was predicted by early postoperative arrhythmias. Two reoperations were performed. One ischaemic stroke occurred. Left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) ejection fractions (EF) were 58±7% and 51±6%, respectively. RVEF was diminished in 17 patients (31%) and in 11 (20%) the RV was dilated. Exercise capacity and quality of life were comparable to the normal population. No clear differences were found between ASD-II or sinus venosus type ASD.

Conclusions Very long-term outcome after surgical ASD closure in childhood shows good survival and low morbidity. Early surgical closure prevents pulmonary hypertension and reduces the occurrence of supraventricular arrhythmias. Early postoperative arrhythmias are predictive for the need for pacemaker implantation during early follow-up, but the rate of late pacemaker implantation remains low. Although RVEF was unexpectedly found to be decreased in one-third of patients, the functional status remains excellent.

  • Congenital Heart Disease
  • Cardiac Function

https://doi.org/10.1136/heartjnl-2013-304225

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