Effects of percutaneous closure of secundum atrial septal defect on size and function of left atrium in patients >40 years of age

AIM:To analyze the influence of age on recovery of left atrial size and function after percutaneous closure of secundum atrial septal defect. METHODS: Forty-nine adult patients were divided into two groups: group A (23 patients), 13 males and 10 females aged from 20-38(31±12) years and group B (26 patients), 9 males and 17 females aged from 40-72(49±14) years. All patients had transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) examination before as well as 2 days and 1, 3 and 6 months after operation to assess the diameter of left atrium and left atrial volume. RESULTS: Left atrium size in group A significantly decreased 3 months after operation compared with that before operation (P<0.05), whereas the size in group B decreased significantly 6 months after operation (P<0.05). LAVte in group A statistically reduced 2 days after operation (P<0.05), whereas in group B it did not decrease statistically until 6 months after operation (P<0.05). LAVpe reduced 3 months (P<0.05) and 6 months (P<0.01) after operation, whereas LAEF increased 1 month (P<0.01) and 3 months (P<0.01) after operation in respective group. CONCLUSION: Recovery of size and function of left atrium patients with ASD who were ≥40 years after percutaneous closure is slower compared with that in younger patients.