National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences

Ostium secundum atrial septal defect


Other Names:
ASD ostium secundum type; Ostium secundum ASD; osASD
Categories:
An ostium secundum atrial septal defect is a type of congenital heart defect called an atrial septal defect (ASD). An ASD is a hole in the wall (septum) between the two upper chambers of the heart (the atria). ASDs can be classified by location. An ostium secundum ASD is a hole in the center of the atrial septum.[1]

Normally, the right side of the heart pumps oxygen-poor blood to the lungs, while the left side pumps oxygen-rich blood to the body. An ASD allows blood from both sides to mix, causing the heart to work less efficiently.[2]

A small hole may not cause any symptoms or problems. A larger hole can eventually cause symptoms such as shortness of breath, respiratory infections, fainting, irregular heart rhythms or fatigue after mild activity.[2][3] Larger ASDs can also ultimately lead to pulmonary artery hypertension, right ventricular hypertrophy (enlargement); SVT, or heart failure.[1]

Most cases of ASD are not inherited and occur by chance. Some cases appear to have autosomal dominant inheritance.[4]

Treatment may not be needed for small ASDs, which often close on their own.[1] Larger ASDs are typically closed during childhood with open heart surgery or by cardiac catheterization.[3]
Last updated: 8/4/2016

This table lists symptoms that people with this disease may have. For most diseases, symptoms will vary from person to person. People with the same disease may not have all the symptoms listed. This information comes from a database called the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) . The HPO collects information on symptoms that have been described in medical resources. The HPO is updated regularly. Use the HPO ID to access more in-depth information about a symptom.

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Medical Terms Other Names
Learn More:
HPO ID
Percent of people who have these symptoms is not available through HPO
Aortic valve stenosis
Narrowing of aortic valve
0001650
Atrial septal dilatation 0011995
Autosomal dominant inheritance 0000006
Bicuspid aortic valve
Aortic valve has two leaflets rather than three
0001647
Persistent left superior vena cava 0005301
Second degree atrioventricular block 0011706
Secundum atrial septal defect 0001684
Subvalvular aortic stenosis
Narrowing of blood vessel below aortic heart valve
0001682
Tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary atresia 0012516
Ventricular septal defect
Hole in heart wall separating two lower heart chambers
0001629
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Last updated: 7/1/2020
Most atrial septal defects (ASDs) occur sporadically (by chance), though familial transmission has also been reported.[5][4] Some cases appear to have autosomal dominant inheritance.[4] Some genetic syndromes with skeletal abnormalities associated with ASD also have autosomal dominant inheritance.

It is not possible to predict whether the child of a person with an ASD, or another congenital heart defect, will be affected. Because of the possibility that it can be familial, the family and medical history should be carefully evaluated by a cardiologist or a genetics professional.[5] These specialists can address questions and concerns and assess recurrence risks.

Additionally, women with congenital heart disease (or whose partner has congenital heart disease) should be offered fetal echocardiography in the 19th to 22nd week of pregnancy to evaluate the fetal heart.[5]
Last updated: 8/5/2016

If you need medical advice, you can look for doctors or other healthcare professionals who have experience with this disease. You may find these specialists through advocacy organizations, clinical trials, or articles published in medical journals. You may also want to contact a university or tertiary medical center in your area, because these centers tend to see more complex cases and have the latest technology and treatments.

If you can’t find a specialist in your local area, try contacting national or international specialists. They may be able to refer you to someone they know through conferences or research efforts. Some specialists may be willing to consult with you or your local doctors over the phone or by email if you can't travel to them for care.

You can find more tips in our guide, How to Find a Disease Specialist. We also encourage you to explore the rest of this page to find resources that can help you find specialists.

Healthcare Resources

Research helps us better understand diseases and can lead to advances in diagnosis and treatment. This section provides resources to help you learn about medical research and ways to get involved.

Clinical Research Resources

  • The Centers for Mendelian Genomics program is working to discover the causes of rare genetic disorders. For more information about applying to the research study, please visit their website.

Patient Registry

  • A registry supports research by collecting of information about patients that share something in common, such as being diagnosed with Ostium secundum atrial septal defect. The type of data collected can vary from registry to registry and is based on the goals and purpose of that registry. Some registries collect contact information while others collect more detailed medical information. Learn more about registries.

    Registries for Ostium secundum atrial septal defect:
    CHD GENES Study
     

Support and advocacy groups can help you connect with other patients and families, and they can provide valuable services. Many develop patient-centered information and are the driving force behind research for better treatments and possible cures. They can direct you to research, resources, and services. Many organizations also have experts who serve as medical advisors or provide lists of doctors/clinics. Visit the group’s website or contact them to learn about the services they offer. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by GARD.

Organizations Supporting this Disease

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

Where to Start

  • You can obtain information on this topic from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC is recognized as the lead federal agency for developing and applying disease prevention and control, environmental health, and health promotion and education activities designed to improve the health of the people of the United States.
  • Mayo Clinic has an information page on Ostium secundum atrial septal defect.
  • MedlinePlus was designed by the National Library of Medicine to help you research your health questions, and it provides more information about this topic.
  • The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) has a report for patients and families about this condition. NORD is a patient advocacy organization for individuals with rare diseases and the organizations that serve them.

In-Depth Information

  • Medscape Reference provides information on this topic. You may need to register to view the medical textbook, but registration is free.
  • The Merck Manual for health care professionals provides information on Ostium secundum atrial septal defect.
  • The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
  • Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) is a catalog of human genes and genetic disorders. Each entry has a summary of related medical articles. It is meant for health care professionals and researchers. OMIM is maintained by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. 
  • Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge.
  • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Ostium secundum atrial septal defect. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

Questions sent to GARD may be posted here if the information could be helpful to others. We remove all identifying information when posting a question to protect your privacy. If you do not want your question posted, please let us know. Submit a new question

  • My wife had an ostium secundum ASD repaired at the age of 22. She now has no problems and is not taking any medicines. If she got pregnant now, will it create a problem later on? See answer


  1. Jeanne Marie Baffa. Atrial Septal Defect (ASD). Merck Manual. January, 2014; http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/pediatrics/congenital-cardiovascular-anomalies/atrial-septal-defect-asd.
  2. Atrial Septal Defect. Cleveland Clinic. 2016; http://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/heart/disorders/congenital-heart/atrial-septal-defect-asd.
  3. Atrial Septal Defect (ASD). American Heart Association. March 23, 2013; http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/CongenitalHeartDefects/AboutCongenitalHeartDefects/Atrial-Septal-Defect-ASD_UCM_307021_Article.jsp#.V6NqR_krJD8.
  4. Marla J. F. O'Neill. ATRIAL SEPTAL DEFECT 1; ASD1. OMIM. February 9, 2012; http://www.omim.org/entry/108800.
  5. Heidi M Connolly. Indications for closure and medical management of atrial septal defects in adults. UpToDate. Waltham, MA: UpToDate; July, 2016;