• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Donate now
  • About Tiny Tickers
  • Media Centre
  • Contact Us
Tiny Tickers

Tiny Tickers

Donate now
  • Support & Info
        • Support & Info

          Wherever you are on your journey, we’re here to offer the support and information you need.

          Find out more
        • What is Congenital Heart Disease?
        • Family Support
        • Are you pregnant?
        • Are you pregnant?
        • Just had a baby?
        • Has your baby got a heart defect?
        • Think HEART
        • Bereavement
        • Useful Resources
  • Professionals
        • Professionals

          We are here to help healthcare professionals improve the detection and treatment of congenital heart defects.

          Find out more
        • Sonographer Cardiac Training
          Our trainer, Niki, with sonographers from Russell Hall Hospital
        • Training services
        • Tiny Tickers' Yorkshire Sonographer Training Project to detect heart conditions
        • Training Resources
        • Cardiac Resources
        • The first Tiny Tickers funded pulse oximetry machine, at Good Hope Hospital
        • Pulse Oximetry Resources
        • Think HEART & Think 20
        • Resources Order Form
  • Get Involved
        • Get Involved

          Whatever your skills and interests, there is a way for you to make a difference to babies with heart problems.

          Find out more
        • Donate
        • Donate
        • Give a gift in your will
        • Our Appeals
        • Challenge events
        • Corporate Support
        • Fundraise
        • Share Your story
        • Play our lottery
  • Blogs and News
  • Your Stories
  • About Tiny Tickers
        • Our Work
        • Our Plans & Ambitions
        • How We Are Funded
        • Meet Team Tiny Tickers
        • Join Our Team
        • Our Values
        • Tiny Tickers’ Annual Reports
  • Media Centre
        • Brand Guidelines
        • CHD Statistics and Research
        • Family Stories
  • Contact Us
You are here: Home / Support & Info / What is Congenital Heart Disease? / ASD (Atrial Septal Defect)

ASD (Atrial Septal Defect)

What is an ASD?

An atrial septal defect (or ASD for short) is a hole in the heart – specifically in the atrial septum (the dividing wall between the right and left atria of the heart).

The atria are the upper chambers of the heart.

ASD

There are four types of ASD: 

  • ostium secundum: the most common ASD. It is caused when a part of the atrial septum fails to close completely while the heart is developing
  • ostium primum: part of atrioventricular canal defects (AVSD)
  • sinus venosus: occurs at the junction of the right atrium and the superior vena cava
  • coronary sinus:  located within the wall of the coronary sinus, where it passes behind the left atrium

Normally, blood flows from the left atrium into the left ventricle but when there is a hole between the atria, some of the blood flows through this into the right atrium. This means that more blood goes to the right side of the heart and to the lungs rather than to the rest of the body.

ASDs can vary in size and small ones may require no treatment (if the heart function is good) and may close on their own. If the ASD is medium or large, then there will be more blood that goes through the hole and this results in the heart working harder. This can lead to heart and lung damage. These ones will need to be treated.

How can ASD be spotted?

ASDs can be exceedingly difficult to spot during pregnancy. This is because there is already a small ‘flap-like’ opening between the atria called the Foramen Ovale. It allows blood to flow from the right atrium into the left atrium for it to bypass the lungs. 

This opening closes shortly after birth. If this fails to close, then a hole is left called a Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO).

After birth, an ASD can be suspected due to the sound of a heart murmur. This murmur is the extra blood moving through the right side of the heart and the pulmonary artery.

To confirm the presence of an ASD, an echocardiogram (or echo) is usually conducted. This is an ultrasound scan of the heart – which can show the pattern of blood flow through the ASD and determine how large the opening is.

Babies with large defects may be breathless and struggle to feed and gain weight. Those with a smaller atrial septal defect may only show mild symptoms of having a heart condition or may not have any symptoms at all. Frequent chest infections can be a sign that the oxygenation process is not working efficiently due to extra blood flow to the lungs.

How can ASD be treated?

Small ASDs often do not require treatment and will usually close naturally over a period of time.

Larger ASDs will need surgery to prevent permanent damage to the lungs and, ultimately, heart failure. The hole is closed using open heart surgery or through a catheter intervention.

If surgical closure is required, it is usually performed at 2 to 4 years of age but can be performed at a younger age in symptomatic patients.

For most babies, the heart surgery is low risk but it does depend on the general wellbeing of the child. The length of time in hospital will usually be about a week, depending on how well the child is otherwise.

The catheter intervention uses a catheter (tube), which is passed through a vein into the heart. The ASD is then sealed by inserting a device through it and withdrawing the catheter. When the catheter is withdrawn, the device opens on both sides of the hole to close it.

This procedure is not regarded as surgery and they would probably spend only two or three days in hospital afterwards.

General advice/info for the future

Your cardiologist will advise you about any restrictions on activity that you should be aware of as your baby grows up, but they should be able to live a full and active life, with occasional check-ups.

If your baby had open heart surgery, they will have a scar down the middle of the chest, and there will be small scars where drain tubes were used, but these will fade over time.

View and share our Facebook post on ASD.

Our mission is to support heart parents throughout their journeys. Find out how we can support you here.

Your stories

  • Our heart defects: A father and son’s story

    Our heart defects: A father and son’s story

    When Sam was born in 1985, no-one knew about his heart defects until he went into heart failure. His son, Arthur, was born with similar …read more


  • VSD, ASD & PDA: Piper’s Story

    VSD, ASD & PDA: Piper’s Story

    Piper’s heart defects were detected when she was six weeks old. Her mum, Gemma, shares their story:


  • Hypoplastic Aortic Arch: Kai’s Story

    Hypoplastic Aortic Arch: Kai’s Story

    Kai was born in 2014. His heart defects were detected when he was five weeks old. His proud mum, Chanel, shares their story:


Footer

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

Make a donation

Help us provide a better start for tiny hearts. Make a single or regular donations to help babies with heart defects have a fighting chance.

Donate now

Subscribe to our newsletter

You can change your email preferences at any time. Read how we keep your data safe in our Privacy Policy. 

  • Accessibility
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms and conditions
  • Fundraising Complaints Policy

© 2023 Tiny Tickers • Registered Charity No: 1078114

 

Loading Comments...
 

You must be logged in to post a comment.