Presentation of Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) - Symptoms and Signs

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was carried out in the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), Dhaka, during the period of July, 1992 to June, 1993, which was designed to see the presentation and physical examination findings of atrial septal defect (ASD) patients in our population. A total of 60 ASD patients were included in the study, whose diagnoses were confirmed with echocardiography. Evaluation of the patients showed that 15 % of the patients were asymptomatic and they were detected incidentally. Common symptoms were shortness of breath on exertion (SOBE), Fatigue, palpitation, chest pain and recurrent respiratory infection (RTI). Common physical findings were left parasternal lift, loud first heart sound (S1), fixed splitting of second heart sound (S2) and ejection systolic murmur in pulmonary area. It was observed that all the symptoms and signs in our population correlate well with others.

Key words: Atrial septal defect; symptoms and signs; echocardiography.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jdmc.v20i1.8564

J Dhaka Med Coll. 2011; 20(1) : 9-11