Atrial septal defect eisenmenger's syndrome


 * Associate Editors-In-Chief: Priyamvada Singh, M.B.B.S. [mailto:psingh@perfuse.org]; ; Assistant Editor-In-Chief: Kristin Feeney, B.S. [mailto:kfeeney@perfuse.org]

Overview
Eisenmenger's syndrome outcome is generally poor irrespective of the modalities of treatments used i.e. surgical or medical

Eisenmenger's syndrome and atrial septal defect
If eisenmenger's syndrome has occurred, there is significant risk of mortality regardless of the method of closure of the atrial septal defect. In individuals who have developed eisenmenger's syndrome, the pressure in the right ventricle has elevated high enough to reverse the shunt in the atria. If the atrial septal defect is then closed, the afterload that the right ventricle has to act against has suddenly increased that may lead to acute right ventricular failure (since it may not be able to pump the blood against the pulmonary hypertension). Some of the complications that might occur with eisenmenger's syndrome are thrombosis, bleeding, consideration for organ transplant (lung or heart-lung), and increased risk of maternal mortality during pregnancy.