[Atrial septal defect in patients over 40 years-old].

Surgical treatment of atrial septal defect in patients over 40 years-old is a subject of controversy. We compared long-term outcome in patients over 40 treated conservatively, with that of a similar group of patients after surgical closure. We concluded that surgical closure was superior to medical treatment. Our results indicate that surgery should be performed as soon as possible, even if the functional symptoms seem to be minimal.