Pregnancy Issues in Women with Atrial Septal Defect

Success of surgical repair of congenital heart defects in the past five decades has enabled survival into adulthood. Women born with congenital heart diseases reach child-bearing age with or without surgical repair of those lesions. Specifically, atrial septal defect (ASD) is a non-lethal, acyanotic lesion in which survival into adulthood with or without surgery is common place. Types of ASD and hemodynamics have been discussed elsewhere in this book. Briefly, ASD causes left to right shunting leading to right atrial and right ventricular enlargement and increased pulmonary blood flow. Heart failure is uncommon before 4th decade. Mild pulmonary arterial hypertension may occur with advancing age. However, Eisenmenger’s syndrome is rare.