An atrial septal defect is a birth defect of the heart in which there is a hole in the wall (septum) that divides the upper chambers (atria) of the heart. A hole can vary in size and may close on its own or may require surgery. An atrial septal defect is one type of congenital heart defect.
Treatment
Treatment for atrial septal defect depends on the size of the hole in the heart and whether you or your child has other congenital heart defects.
Many atrial septal defects close on their own during childhood. For those that don't close, some small atrial septal defects might not require treatment. A doctor specializing in heart diseases (cardiologist) might recommend monitoring it with regular health checkups to see if it closes on its own.
Your health care provider will discuss with you when you or your child needs treatment. Many persistent atrial septal defects eventually require surgery. However, closure isn't recommended if severe pulmonary hypertension is present.
