Description
Atrial septal defect (ASD) is one of the most common congenital cardiac malformations in adults. Most adult patients are symptomatic and there is progressive deterioration in symptoms with advancing years. Lutembachers syndrome is a rare combination of ostium secundum ASD and mitral stenosis but its combination with aortic stenosis has not been described before. The patient survived to 80 years despite a large ASD with mitral and aortic stenosis, both augmenting the left to right intra atrial shunt. With increasing availability of echocardiogram there is likely to be an increase in the detection of ASD in middle aged and elderly patients. The benefit of surgery in older patients remains a contentious issue. This article explores the issues surrounding medical and surgical management in older people.
