Time course and interrelationship of dysrhythmias in patients with surgically repaired atrial septal defect.

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) and other supraventricular tachycardias (SVTs) are known complications after surgical repair of atrial septal defect (ASD), but sinus node dysfunction (SND) and complete atrioventricular conduction block (cAVB) may also occur.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine time course and interrelationship of various dysrhythmias in patients with ASD.

METHODS: Adult patients (N = 95) with surgically repaired secundum ASD (n = 40), partial atrioventricular septal defect (n = 37) or sinus venosus defect (n = 18), and documented SND, cAVB, AF, and/or other SVT were included. The median age at repair was 13 years (interquartile range [IQR] 6-45 years), and patients were followed for 26 years (IQR 15-37 years) after ASD repair.

RESULTS: SND was observed in 34 patients (36%), cAVB in 14 (14%), AF in 48 (49%), and SVT in 44 (45%); 37 patients (39%) had ≥2 dysrhythmias. All dysrhythmias presented most often after ASD repair (P < .01), with a median duration of 12 years (IQR 17 days - 32 years) to 16 years (IQR 4 - 28 years) between repair and onset. Development of SND and cAVB late after ASD repair was not related to a redo procedure in 100% and 60% of patients, respectively. SND preceded atrial tachyarrhythmias in 50% (P = .31) and SVT preceded AF in 68% (P = .09) of patients with both dysrhythmias.

CONCLUSION: A substantial number of dysrhythmias presented (very) late after ASD repair. In most patients, development of late SND and cAVB was not related to redo procedures. In patients with multiple dysrhythmias, a specific order of appearance was not observed.