PubMed1986
The haemodynamic data of 1,189 subjects with an atrial septal defect catheterised between 1953 and 1983 at the Marie Lannelongue Surgical Center and at Broussais Hospital was reviewed. Sixty per cent were under 20 years of age and 40 per cent were 21 to 75 years of age. The defect was an ostium secundum type in 89 per cent and sinus venosus in 11 per cent of patients. The commonest associated cardiac malformation was a partial anomalous pulmonary venous drainage which was present in 125 patients. Systolic and mean pulmonary arterial pressures decreased from a value slightly higher than normal between birth and 5 years of age to normal values between 5 and 20 years of age and then increased progressively to maximal values attained after 50 years of age (p less than 0.001). The proportion of patients with raised systolic and mean pulmonary arterial pressures increased with age after 20 years of age (p less than 0.001). A parallel increase in pulmonary blood flow was observed after 20 years of age, which was less marked than the increase in pressures, but nevertheless statistically significant (p less than 0.05). This increase in left to right shunt disappeared after 50 years of age. An increase in pulmonary resistances was observed after 20 years of age and persisted all through life (p less than 0.001). Two successive preoperative catheter studies were performed in 34 patients after a 6.4 +/- 4.7 years interval. In each patient, systolic pulmonary arterial pressures had increased and were significantly higher at the time of the second study (p less than 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)