Association of interatrial septal abnormalities with cardiac impulse conduction disorders in adult patients: experience from a tertiary center in Kosovo
Abstract:
Overview
Interatrial septal disorders, which include:
atrial septal defect, patent foramen ovale and
atrial septal aneurysm, are frequent congenital
anomalies found in adult patients. Early detection
of these anomalies is important to prevent
their hemodynamic and/or thromboembolic
consequences. The aims of this study were: to
assess the association between impulse conduction
disorders and anomalies of interatrial
septum; to determine the prevalence of different
types of interatrial septum abnormalities; to
assess anatomic, hemodynamic, and clinical
consequences of interatrial septal pathologies.
Fifty-three adult patients with impulse conduction
disorders and patients without ECG
changes but with signs of interatrial septal
abnormalities, who were referred to our center
for echocardiography, were included in a
prospective transesophageal echocardiography
study. Intera trial septal anomalies were detected
in around 85% of the examined patients.
Patent foramen ovale was encountered in 32%
of the patients, and in combination with atrial
septal aneurysm in an additional 11.3% of cases.
Atrial septal aneurysm and atrial septal defect
were diagnosed with equal frequency in 20.7%
of our study population. Impulse conduction disorders
were significantly more suggestive of
interatrial septal anomalies than clinical signs
and symptoms observed in our patients (84.91%
vs 30.19%, P=0.002). Right bundle branch block
was the most frequent impulse conduction disorder,
found in 41 (77.36%) cases. We conclude
that interatrial septal anomalies are highly
associated with impulse conduction disorders,
particularly with right bundle branch block.
Impulse conduction disorders are more indicative
of interatrial septal abnormalities in earlier
stages than can be understood from the
patient’s clinical condition.
Keywords
Atrial septal defect, patent foramen ovale, atrial septal aneurysm, right bundle branch block.
Article:
Article Information:
Correspondence
Aurora Bakalli, Rr. Gazmend Zajmi nr.23. 10000 Prishtine. Kosovo. Tel. +00.37744151111. E-mail: abakalli@hotmail.com
Received
2011-05-10T00:00:00