[Proceedings: Surgical closure of an atrial septal defect in a patient of over 40 years of age].

Between 1961 and 1972, 354 patients with atrial septal defect were treated surgically. Of these, 80 patients were aged over 40 years at the time of operation. The hospital mortality was 5%; 2 patients had increased preoperative pulmonary artery systolic pressure (50-75 mm Hg), while the other 2 had mitral or tricuspid incompetence. At late follow-up 82% of patients were free of symptoms and 18% had slight clinical signs of breathlessness on exertion. The heart size decreased in 37 of 10 patients, the electrocardiographic signs of right ventricular hypertrophy receded in 23 patients. The operation had no effect on preexisting dysrhythmias. It is concluded that patients with atrial septal defect in this age group benefit from surgical closure of the defect.