Introduction: Surgical closure of an atrial septal defect (ASD) before the age of 25 years has been demonstrated to reduce complications during adulthood. However, the outcome for patients operated after the age of 25 is still debated.
Methods: In a retrospective study we examined the outcome of early and late surgical repair of ASD in adults, as compared with the natural evolution of unoperated patients. The study population was 280 patients (mean age 40 18 years) with non-restrictive ASD: 102 patients (group 1) underwent surgery before the age of 25 years, 90 patients (group 2) underwent surgery after the age of 25 years, and 88 unoperated patients were older than 25 years at the time of study (group 3). The variables analyzed were left ventricular systolic function, left atrial dimensions, systolic pulmonary pressure, right ventricular dimensions, the degree of mitral and tricuspid regurgitation, and the prevalence of late atrial fibrillation.
Results: Left ventricular systolic function and the degree of mitral regurgitation were not statistically different between groups. Compared with the patients in group 2, the patients in group 1 had a significantly lower systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (p < 0.001) and less dilated right ventricle (p < 0.001) and left atrium (p < 0.001). The degree of tricuspid regurgitation (p < 0.001) and prevalence of atrial fibrillation (p < 0.001) were significantly higher in the patients of group 2. Compared with group 3, the patients in group 2 had a significantly lower systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (p < 0.001) and less dilated right ventricle (p < 0.001). However, the left atrial dimensions, degree of tricuspid regurgitation, and prevalence of atrial fibrillation did not differ in a statistically significant way between the two groups.
Conclusions: Surgical repair of an atrial septal defect in patients over 25 years of age does not fully prevent hemodynamic deterioration and the development of atrial arrhythmias. Therefore it seems that the surgical closure of ASD before adulthood should be strongly recommended.