OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the cardiopulmonary exercise capacity and ventilatory function in adults with atrial septal defect (ASD) preoperatively and 4 months and 10 years postoperatively. BACKGROUND: Only few data are available on cardiopulmonary exercise tolerance after ASD closure, but detailed knowledge might be helpful for indication for defect closure in certain patients. METHODS: The study was performed in adult patients (mean [+/-SD] age at operation 39.9 +/- 11.5 years; left-right shunt 9.6 +/- 5.6 liters/min; pulmonary/systemic flow ratio 2.8 +/- 1.2; mean pulmonary artery pressure 18.2 +/- 6.2 mm Hg). Cardiopulmonary exercise testing was performed with a bicycle ergometer. We determined peak oxygen uptake, anaerobic threshold, performance at anaerobic threshold and maximal performance in relation to these variables in a normal group. Ventilatory function at rest was expressed by vital capacity, maximal voluntary ventilation and forced expiratory volume in 1 s. RESULTS: Preoperatively, ventilatory function at rest was only moderately reduced to approximately 75% to 85%. Four months postoperatively we found no significant improvement, but 10 years postoperatively ventilatory function at rest was normalized. Preoperative cardiopulmonary exercise capacity was markedly reduced to 50% to 60%; early postoperatively it was only slightly higher, but late postoperatively exercise capacity significantly improved and was completely normalized. CONCLUSIONS: Although preoperative cardiopulmonary capacity in adult patients with nonrestrictive ASD was significantly decreased, some improvement was seen at 4 months postoperatively, with complete restitution to normal at 10 years after shunt closure.
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the cardiopulmonary exercise capacity and ventilatory function in adults with atrial septal defect (ASD) preoperatively and 4 months and 10 years postoperatively. BACKGROUND: Only few data are available on cardiopulmonary exercise tolerance after ASD closure, but detailed knowledge might be helpful for indication for defect closure in certain patients. METHODS: The study was performed in adult patients (mean [+/-SD] age at operation 39.9 +/- 11.5 years; left-right shunt 9.6 +/- 5.6 liters/min; pulmonary/systemic flow ratio 2.8 +/- 1.2; mean pulmonary artery pressure 18.2 +/- 6.2 mm Hg). Cardiopulmonary exercise testing was performed with a bicycle ergometer. We determined peak oxygen uptake, anaerobic threshold, performance at anaerobic threshold and maximal performance in relation to these variables in a normal group. Ventilatory function at rest was expressed by vital capacity, maximal voluntary ventilation and forced expiratory volume in 1 s. RESULTS: Preoperatively, ventilatory function at rest was only moderately reduced to approximately 75% to 85%. Four months postoperatively we found no significant improvement, but 10 years postoperatively ventilatory function at rest was normalized. Preoperative cardiopulmonary exercise capacity was markedly reduced to 50% to 60%; early postoperatively it was only slightly higher, but late postoperatively exercise capacity significantly improved and was completely normalized. CONCLUSIONS: Although preoperative cardiopulmonary capacity in adult patients with nonrestrictive ASD was significantly decreased, some improvement was seen at 4 months postoperatively, with complete restitution to normal at 10 years after shunt closure.
Authors: Lauren E Sterrett; Eric S Ebenroth; Christina Query; Jason Ho; Gregory S Montgomery; Roger A Hurwitz; Fitsum Baye; Marcus S Schamberger Journal: Pediatr Cardiol Date: 2014-07-03 Impact factor: 1.655