High Atrial Septal Defect

A high atrial septal defect is a type of congenital heart defect in which there is an opening in the wall that separates the two atria, located in an upper position of the septum. This allows an abnormal passage of blood between both chambers.

Possible manifestations: many cases go unnoticed in the early years; over time, fatigue, shortness of breath on exertion, frequent respiratory infections, or a murmur detected during an exam may be noticed.

When to seek care? The presence of a murmur or unusual fatigue in a child justifies studying the heart.

Which specialist treats it? Its evaluation falls to the pediatric cardiologist and the cardiologist, with support from the cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon and follow-up by the pediatrician. A timely cardiology evaluation helps define the most appropriate care plan.