Atrioventricular Septal Defect
An atrial
septal defect (ASD) is an abnormal opening in the wall between the
two upper chambers of the heart — the right and left atria.
This opening causes some of the blood, which should normally flow
only on the left side of the heart, flow to the right.The excess blood
flows through the right ventricle into the pulmonary artery and to
the lungs, making the heart work harder than normal. The extra
blood flowing to the lungs creates a sound called a
murmur. Over time, a
large atrial septal defect can cause permanent damage to the heart
and lungs.
