Late Surgical Closure of Secundum Type Atrial Septal Defect

Between 1968 and 1995, a total of 153 patients who were between 35 and 63 years of age (mean 49.8 years), underwent surgery for secundum type atrial septal defect. There were 78 (50.9%) males and 75 females (49.1 %). Mean left-to-right shunt ratio was calculated as 2.49. Mean pulmonary artery pressure was 50.15 mm Hg. Three patients died within 30 days of surgery, giving a hospital mortality of 1.96%. Long-term follow-up was available in 135 cases (90%). Total follow-up was 967.3 patient-years and ranged from 3 months to 11.3 years (mean 7.16 years). There were no late deaths reported. Four patients were readmitted with atrial fibrillation and 2 with pericardial effusion. In our experience, surgical closure of atrial septal defect in adults was found to be successful, safe, and with low morbidity in patients with pulmonary hypertension and congestive heart failure.