Management of Atrial Septal Defect in the Adult Population

Atrial septal defects (ASDs) are a common congenital heart anomaly that can remain unnoticed well into adulthood. Untreated ASDs may have significant implications, thus early diagnosis and comprehensive treatment are crucial to improving patient outcomes. This review highlights the treatment options for ASDs, with an emphasis on age-specific considerations. Adult presentation shows nuances that differ from those demonstrated in pediatrics. Optimal care emphasizes examining comorbidities that may impact procedural and postoperative success. Both surgical and transcatheter closure approaches are consistently used and have been proven to be successful, although the latter holds lower complication rates. Regardless, ASD closure in the adult population appears to improve symptoms and increase long-term outcomes.