Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) is a congenital heart disease that allows abnormal shunting of blood between the left and right atria of the heart. In a normal heart, this communication between the atria ceases after birth. Atrial septal defect affects 1 in 2000 live births globally.
There are several types of atrial septal defect, the most common being ostium secundum. There are often no symptoms of ASD during childhood; however, symptoms similar to that of congestive heart failure will often develop later in life if significant shunting occurs and is left untreated. This website has been designed to provide an overview of the pathophysiology, development, and treatment options for the disease. The website also features interviews conducted with prominent cardiologists in Rhode Island and informative videos of different procedures used to treat the defect.
This web page was prepared by Brown University students in the Biology 108 Organ Replacement course.
