Atrial – Ventricular Septal Defect

Atrial and ventricular septal defect constitute the most common congenital heart disease. Aim: Τhe aim of the present retrospective study was to record data and factors that affect atrial and ventricular septal defect. Method and material: The sample study included patients of both sexes who were hospitalized with diagnosis atrial and ventricular septal defect in a Cardiac Surgery hospital of Athens. A specially constructed printed form was used for data collection, where were recorded the demographic and personal variables, the pathological, surgical, cardiology and obstetric history, the habits of adults, as well as the personal characteristics of mothers. Analysis of data was performed by descriptive statistical analysis. Results: The sample study consisted of 101 individuals with diagnosis atrial or ventricular Septal Defect, of which 40% were boys and 60% girls. The 70% of the sample study suffered from atrial Septal Defect and the 30% suffered from ventricular Septal Defect. Regarding age, 12% of the sample study was 0-1 years old, 35% was >1 years old, 8% was >12-18 years old and 45% over than 18 years old. Regarding educational status of the adult participants, 9% was of 0-6 years education, 22%>6 -12 years, 13%>12 years. 14% of the adult paticipants smoked, 4% consumed alcohol and 5% smoked in conjunction with alcohol. In terms of the obstetric history of the sample studied, 32% of the cases had normal birth, 4% had a twin birth and 1% had a triplet one. According to the variables related to mothers, the mean age of the mother was 30 years and 3 months, 10% were smokers at pregnancy and 3% used chemical substance and mainly hair color. Also, the results of the present study showed that individuals of 12-18 and >18 years old did not suffer from ventricular Septal Defect, whereas the infants 0-1 years old did not suffer from Atrial Septal Defect. The mean value of age at the admission in intensive care unit was 7 months (12%) for the infants, 4 years and 8 months for children (35%), 15 years and 2 months (8%) for adolescents and 41 years and 4 months for the adult. 58% of the sample study manifested clinical symptoms at the admission in intensive care unit, whereas complications during their care manifested the 79% of cases. Conclusions: It is a matter of great importance, if society in collaboration with health care professionals could early organize systematic diagnostic and educational programs for improving the knowledge of the disease.

Keywords: atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect, danger factors