Etymed
atrial septal defect
Definition
A congenital heart defect characterized by a hole in the septum between the atria of the heart
Clinical context
A 28-year-old woman presents with fatigue and shortness of breath during exercise. On examination, a loud pansystolic murmur is heard at the left sternal border, and an S3 gallop is noted. Echocardiography reveals a defect in the atrial septum with left-to-right shunting. The patient's symptoms are attributed to increased pulmonary blood flow due to the abnormal communication between the atria.
Mnemonic
Atrial septal defect - 'A' for atrial, 'S' for septal, 'D' for defect - think 'A S D' like 'A S D' for 'Atrial Septal Defect'