Impaired ventilatory efficiency after closure of atrial or ventricular septal defect
Abstract
Atrial and ventricular septal defects are the most common congenital heart defects and the closing procedures share important similarities. Generally, the postoperative outcome is considered benign, but there is growing concern regarding late ventilatory function. Therefore, the aim of this review was to describe the ventilatory function in patients with open as well as percutaneously or surgically closed atrial and ventricular septal defects. We performed a search protocol based on the "Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses" (PRISMA) guidelines. A data collection form was specifically developed and data were extracted from the included studies by a primary reviewer and cross-checked by the secondary reviewer. We found an increasing evidence of late impairment in ventilatory efficiency, and despite that ventilatory function is commonly normal at rest, abnormalities were disclosed during exercise. There are indices that surgical closure plays an important role. Atrial septal defect and ventricular septal defect patients have persisting, long-term impairment in ventilatory efficiency during exercise. Although the pathogenesis behind this finding may be multifactorial, there are indices that the surgic...Continue Reading
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Birth Defects
Birth defects encompass structural and functional alterations that occur during embryonic or fetal development and are present since birth. The cause may be genetic, environmental or unknown and can result in physical and/or mental impairment. Here is the latest research on birth defects.