Two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography for assessment of both atria functions in patients with atrial septal defect

ABSTRACT

Background: of all the types of congenital heart disease, ASDs represent the second most common and account for 7% to 10% of all congenital heart defects. The most common type of atrial septal communication is an ostium secundum defect, representing 80% of all ASDs. In unaffected individuals, the chambers of the left side of the heart are under higher pressure than the chambers of the right side. In the case of ASD, which may result in a clinically remarkable left-to-right shunt, blood shunts from the left atrium to the right atrium. This extra blood from the left atrium may cause a volume overload of the right side