[Symptomatic atrial septal defect in infancy (author's transl)].

Seven cases of isolated atrial septal defect, "ostium secundum" type, are presented. All had clinical symptoms of congestive heart failure and represented five per cent of the cases studied in our department with atrial septal defect. In three patients associated extracardiac anomalies were found. All had cardiomegaly, increased pulmonary vascularity, right ventricular hypertrophy and splitted second sound. Echocardiographic findings were: paradoxal movement of the interventricular septum and ventricular dyastolic overflow. Medium left to right shunt was 3.08. In four cases a massive filling of the right atrium was obtained, through, the selective injection of contrast material, in the pulmonary artery. None of the patients, responded to medical treatment alone and five of then went to surgery with significant improvement, in their clinical manifestations, and normal growth and weight curves in their follow-up. Importance in survival of early surgery is emphasized.