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How common is a hole in the heart?
What is a hole in the heart?
How many babies have a hole in the heart?
Can a hole in the heart cause symptoms?
What is a hole in the middle of the atrial septum?
Is an atrial septal defect a congenital heart defect?
An atrial septal defect (ASD) is a hole in the atrial septum, the wall between the two upper chambers of the heart (atria). It’s a type of congenital heart disease, which means it is something you are born with. An ASD can happen on its own or with other types of congenital heart disease.
- Atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD)
Atrioventricular septal defect, also known as AVSD, is a...
- Ventricular septal defect (VSD)
How a ventricular septal defect affects your heart. The...
- Atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD)
- Overview
- Risk factors
- Symptoms
- Diagnosis
- Treatment
- Survival rate
- Complications
- Summary
A hole in the heart is a nonmedical term for a type of congenital heart defect. There are many types of holes in the heart, and most are present from birth. Almost 7 out of 10 infants born with a hole in the heart survive into adulthood.
Around 1% of babies born in the United States have a congenital heart defect, such as a hole in the heart.
Rarely, holes in the heart can form after birth. For example, they can develop during a heart attack or after a medical procedure. Atrial septal abnormalities, where a hole develops in the heart’s septum, are quite common in children.
While experts do not know what causes holes in the heart, genetics can often be a factor. However, other factors may also influence the development of these heart abnormalities.
People may experience symptoms according to the type of hole they have in the heart. While they may not necessarily require treatment, those causing symptoms or complications may require surgery.
Keep reading to learn more about holes in the heart, including the different types, risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatments.
Experts do not know what causes most congenital heart abnormalities. However, genetics often play a role, and some may be more common in people with a family history of the condition or with chromosomal abnormalities.
Environmental factors may also affect heart development. For example, pregnant people who have exposure to certain chemicals or drugs may be more likely to give birth to infants with heart abnormalities.
Substances that may pose a risk include:
•medicines for high blood pressure called angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors
•statins
•thalidomide
A hole in the heart can lead to the mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood. This may put stress on the side of the heart that is getting more blood flow than expected, which may cause a condition called cyanosis. Cyanosis refers to skin discoloration resulting from circulation issues of oxygenated blood.
Additionally, a stroke or a transient ischemic attack — known as a mini stroke — can occur if blood skips the lungs and moves straight to the arterial side through the atrial septal abnormality or PFO.
A doctor who suspects a hole in the heart may order one or more of the following tests to make a diagnosis:
•an echocardiogram of the chest
•a cardiac CT
•a cardiac MRI
•a chest X-ray
•an exercise stress test for adults
Treatment depends on:
•the type of hole
•location of the hole
•the person’s age
•whether the person is experiencing symptoms
For example, a small ventricular septal abnormality may not require treatment if it causes no noticeable symptoms.
Survival rates depend largely on the severity of the hole in the heart.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 97% of infants with nonserious types of congenital heart abnormalities survive for at least a year. Additionally, health experts predict that around 95% of infants with these abnormalities will live to 18 years of age.
However, 75% of those born with serious heart abnormalities tend to survive at least one year, with 69% expected to survive until adulthood.
Generally, the survival and medical interventions for infants with serious congenital heart abnormalities are improving.
Complications may vary substantially, depending on the type of hole in the heart and its size.
With atrial septal abnormalities, possible complications may include:
•arrhythmia
•high blood pressure
•stroke
•heart failure
A hole in the heart typically forms before birth and may close on its own afterward. However, some holes may remain and cause symptoms or lead to complications.
Symptom severity can vary depending on the size and location of the hole. Doctors often detect holes in the heart during pregnancy or not long after birth.
Some people only find out they have a hole in their heart when they are well into their adulthood. They may start experiencing symptoms, or their doctor may detect a murmur during a routine exam.
Treatment may require surgery, but this depends mainly on the size of the hole and whether it is causing symptoms.
Types of congenital heart disease. There are many types of congenital heart disease and they sometimes occur in combination. Some of the more common defects include: septal defects – where there's a hole between 2 of the heart's chambers (commonly referred to as a "hole in the heart")
Atrioventricular septal defect, also known as AVSD, is a large hole or holes in the wall between the chambers of the heart. There is only one valve, instead of two, between the upper and lower chambers. It can also be called atrioventricular canal (AVC) defect or endocardial cushion defect.
How a ventricular septal defect affects your heart. The lower chambers of your heart (the right and left ventricles) are separated by a wall of muscle, called the ventricular septum. If you have a VSD you have a hole in this wall. This means when your heart beats blood can flow through the hole.
Jan 23, 2024 · An atrial septal defect (ASD) is a heart condition that you're born with. That means it's a congenital heart defect. People with an ASD have a hole between the upper heart chambers. The hole increases the amount of blood going through the lungs.
A ventricular septal defect (VSD) is a common form of congenital heart disease. It occurs when there's a hole between the 2 pumping chambers of the heart (the left and right ventricles). This means that extra blood flows through the hole from the left to the right ventricle, due to the pressure difference between them.
