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Can A Hole In Heart Cause Heart Failure In An Elderly Person?

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Posted on Thu, 28 Apr 2016
Question: i am 66 after told I had heart failure a echogram showed i had a hole in my heart as well did this cause the heart failure??
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Answered by Dr. Ilir Sharka (45 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Welcome on HCM!

Regarding your concern, I would explain that congenital cardiac septal defects (most probably at your age that "hole" stands for an atrial septal defect) are an important cause of heart failure when left untreated.

It is important to correctly quantify the dimensions of that septal defect, location, its adverse hemodynamic consequences (severity of inter-atrial shunt, implications in pulmonary artery pressure, possible dilations of cardiac chambers, etc) as well as possible cardiac arrhythmias, or other concomitant abnormalities.

All the above estimations can be achieved perfectly by cardiac ultrasound.

If no any other known chronic heart disease is present, then all your actual complaints seem to be caused by that newly revealed congenital defect (cardiac "hole").

Please, could you explain me your actual clinical symptomatology (complaints) and if available to upload me your already performed cardiac ultrasound (ECHO) for a direct review and a second professional opinion.

At the end, I would like to assure you that atrial septal defect is a cardiac disorder that can be successfully corrected even at your age or older.

So relax!

It can be corrected by an appropriate percutaneous intervention (utilizing special devices), or by a surgical intervention.

Hope to have been helpful to you!

In case of any other uncertainties, feel free to ask me again.

Kind regards,

Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Ilir Sharka

Cardiologist

Practicing since :2001

Answered : 9539 Questions

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Can A Hole In Heart Cause Heart Failure In An Elderly Person?

Brief Answer: I would explain as follows: Detailed Answer: Hello, Welcome on HCM! Regarding your concern, I would explain that congenital cardiac septal defects (most probably at your age that "hole" stands for an atrial septal defect) are an important cause of heart failure when left untreated. It is important to correctly quantify the dimensions of that septal defect, location, its adverse hemodynamic consequences (severity of inter-atrial shunt, implications in pulmonary artery pressure, possible dilations of cardiac chambers, etc) as well as possible cardiac arrhythmias, or other concomitant abnormalities. All the above estimations can be achieved perfectly by cardiac ultrasound. If no any other known chronic heart disease is present, then all your actual complaints seem to be caused by that newly revealed congenital defect (cardiac "hole"). Please, could you explain me your actual clinical symptomatology (complaints) and if available to upload me your already performed cardiac ultrasound (ECHO) for a direct review and a second professional opinion. At the end, I would like to assure you that atrial septal defect is a cardiac disorder that can be successfully corrected even at your age or older. So relax! It can be corrected by an appropriate percutaneous intervention (utilizing special devices), or by a surgical intervention. Hope to have been helpful to you! In case of any other uncertainties, feel free to ask me again. Kind regards, Dr. Iliri