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Complications
By Mayo Clinic staffA small atrial septal defect may never cause any problems. Small holes often close during infancy.
Larger defects can cause mild to life-threatening problems:
- Pulmonary hypertension. If a large atrial septal defect goes untreated, increased blood flow to your lungs increases the blood pressure in the lung arteries (pulmonary hypertension).
- Eisenmenger's syndrome. In rare cases, pulmonary hypertension can cause permanent lung damage, and it becomes irreversible. This complication, called Eisenmenger's syndrome, usually develops over many years and occurs only in a small percentage of people with large atrial septal defects.
Other complications
Other potential complications of an untreated atrial septal defect include:
- Right-sided heart failure
- Heart rhythm abnormalities
- Shortened life expectancy
- Increased risk of a stroke
Treatment can prevent or help manage many of these complications.
Atrial septal defect and pregnancy
Pregnancy is often a concern for women born with a heart defect. Most women with an atrial septal defect can tolerate pregnancy without any problems. However, having a larger defect or having complications such as heart failure, arrhythmias or pulmonary hypertension can increase your risk of complications during pregnancy. Doctors strongly advise women with Eisenmenger's syndrome not to become pregnant because it can endanger the woman's life.
The risk of congenital heart disease in the general population is less than 1 percent. For children of parents with congenital heart disease, whether father or mother, this risk increases to between 2 percent and 20 percent, according to the American Heart Association. Experts recommend that anyone with a congenital heart defect, repaired or not, who is considering starting a family, carefully discuss it beforehand with his or her doctor.
In some cases, preconception consultations with doctors who specialize in cardiology, genetics and high-risk obstetric care are needed. Some heart medications can cause serious problems for a fetus and may need to be stopped or adjusted before you become pregnant.
