Left Atrial Shunt

[rothwell]

I have had AF for 9 years. I currently take Bisoprolol and Apixaban. I have had two ablations, neither of which stopped the AF. However the second ablation in 2019 left an Atrial septum defect I.e. a hole between the two atria which apparently causes a left atrial shunt. The arrhythmia nurse who I saw during a visit said that this would not cause any problems. However more recently I have noticed a lot of gaps in the waves between heartbeats when I take my heart rate and can feel them when I hold my wrist. There has been no mention of anything being done about it and I no longer have any hospital visits. Has this happened to anyone else. I don’t remember it being mentioned as an ablation risk and now regret having the ablations as they didn’t stop the AF and caused this defect. Iwould be interested to know if this happened to anyone else and if it had caused any problems.

[10gingercats]

I had a hole in my heart closed 10 years ago.Now in my 80's.I had no shunt.The procedure for me was a day job in hospital done under sedation.There are things you would need to know from a specialist as to whether your op,if you went down that road, would be a simple job. It would for example depend upon the size of the hole as to whether they would do it under sedation and the shunt may affect their decision as well. Mine was done as I had had it all my life,so they said, with no problems including childbirth but then I had a TIA and that tipped the balance as to whether to leave it or close it. They can also cause an embolism which it was thought might have prompted my TIA.

[rothwell in reply to 10gingercats]

Thank you.....I'm not sure where the hole was in your heart but glad it was sorted. I am aware that it can be a birth defect. I thi k I need to try to get a hospital appointment to discuss this. Its interesting to know of another possible ablation risk

[10gingercats]

Forgot to add. I had/have not had any ablations.

[ozziebob]

I have an ASA (Interatrial Septal aneurysm) noted on my Echocardiogram, but no medical expert has been concerned to discuss it with me. However, when I was investigating septal aneurysms and septal defects for myself, I found research that indicated an ASD (atrial septal defect), which is what a hole would be described as, gives a higher incidence of strokes. Please investigate this further with your medical advisors.

PS. I only have a layman's knowledge in this matter, so don't be alarmed by my information.

Good luck.

[10gingercats in reply to ozziebob]

Yes. The greater risk of stroke was considered before I had mine closed.