[Surgical repair of atrial septal defect in patients over 70 years of age].

Three patients over 70 years of age underwent surgical repair of secundum atrial septal defect (ASD). All patients had preoperative symptoms such as heart failure, atrial fibrillation and cardiomegaly. According to the New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification, two patients belonged to class II and one class III. Cardiac catheterization data revealed mild pulmonary hypertension and mild to moderate tricuspid regurgitation in all the patients. An ASD was directly closed in all the patients, and two of them required tricuspid anuloplasty. The use of catecholamine continued for two or three weeks in two patients because of postoperative cardiac dysfunction. Postoperative physical activity has improved in all the patients. Surgical repair of an ASD is recommended even for patients over 70 years of age unless they have major risks and severe pulmonary hypertension.