ATRIAL SEPTAL DEFECT IN THE AGED

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Abstract
Atrial septal defect is the commonest type of congenital heart disease encountered in adults. In 4 years experience in a municipal hospital, 19 patients, 47 years or older, with atrial septal defect were recognized. Three patients with other types of congenital heart disease were recognized in the same age group over the same period of time. Hemodynamic observations on 12 patients with atrial septal defect demonstrated pulmonary hypertension as a common complication. Pulmonary hypertension does not necessarily result from a high pulmonary blood flow over a long period of time. Two subjects both over 70 years of age did not exhibit pulmonary hypertension although the pulmonary blood flows were very large.