title: The unnatural history of an atrial septal defect: longitudinal 35 year follow up after surgical closure at young age.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the very long-term outcome after surgical closure of an atrial septal defect (ASD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal cohort study of 135 consecutive patients who underwent surgical ASD repair at age <15 years between 1968 and 1980. The study protocol included ECG, echocardiography, exercise testing, N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic hormone, Holter monitoring and cardiac MRI.
  
  
  METHODS
  Survival, major events (cardiac reinterventions, stroke, symptomatic arrhythmia or heart failure) and ventricular function.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 35 years (range 30-41), survival status was obtained in 131 of 135 patients (97%): five died (4%), including two sudden deaths in the last decade. Fourteen patients (16%) had symptomatic supraventricular tachyarrhythmias and six (6%) had a pacemaker implanted which was predicted by early postoperative arrhythmias. Two reoperations were performed. One ischaemic stroke occurred. Left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) ejection fractions (EF) were 58 ± 7% and 51 ± 6%, respectively. RVEF was diminished in 17 patients (31%) and in 11 (20%) the RV was dilated. Exercise capacity and quality of life were comparable to the normal population. No clear differences were found between ASD-II or sinus venosus type ASD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Very long-term outcome after surgical ASD closure in childhood shows good survival and low morbidity. Early surgical closure prevents pulmonary hypertension and reduces the occurrence of supraventricular arrhythmias. Early postoperative arrhythmias are predictive for the need for pacemaker implantation during early follow-up, but the rate of late pacemaker implantation remains low. Although RVEF was unexpectedly found to be decreased in one-third of patients, the functional status remains excellent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. j.cuypers@erasmusmc.nl
authors.forename: Judith A A E
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Cuypers
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Opić
authors.forename: Myrthe E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Menting
authors.forename: Elisabeth M W J
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Utens
authors.forename: Maarten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Witsenburg
authors.forename: Wim A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Helbing
authors.forename: Annemien E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: van den Bosch
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ouhlous
authors.forename: Ron T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: van Domburg
authors.forename: Folkert J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Meijboom
authors.forename: Ad J J C
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Bogers
authors.forename: Jolien W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Roos-Hesselink
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006344:Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood; D017741:Survivors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain
keywords: Cardiac Function; Congenital Heart Disease