Foramen secundum

Discovery

The discovery of the formation of the foramen secundum and septum secundum was published by P. N. B. Odgers at the University of Oxford in the Journal of Anatomy in 1935.

Embryological development

During development, the atria initially share a common chamber. As the two begin to separate, the septum is not fully formed to allow blood shunting from the right to left atrium in order for blood to bypass the lungs. The septum primum and spina vestibuli grow together to divide the right and left atria during the fifth week of development. This results in the formation of the foramen primum. The septum primum continues to grow until the sixth week when the dorsal and ventral cushions fuse to form the atrioventricular septum. The fusion process closes the foramen primum via controlled cell death (apoptosis), and several smaller perforations come together to form the foramen secundum. The perforations form before the foramen primum closes completely, ensuring the shunting process continues at all stages.

Anatomical position

The septum primum is on the left side of the heart in the left atrium while the septum secundum is much thicker and is located on the right side, in the right atrium. During development, blood shunts from the floor of the right atrium through the foramen ovale in the septum secundum then up through the foramen secundum in the septum primum. The foramen secundum is positioned so that blood exits in the ceiling of the left atrium and then out through the left ventricle and the aorta. The position of the foramen secundum and the size of the septum primum are crucial to ensuring that blood not flow backwards from the left atrium to the right atrium. The septum primum, being much thinner, is easily pressed against the septum secundum if blood attempts to flow in the reverse direction, effectively sealing off both the foramen secundum and the foramen ovale.

Closing during birth

To provide proper blood flow as a newborn, the foramen secundum and foramen ovale must close at birth. Since the lungs now require a significant amount of blood flow, the vessels going to and from the lungs undergo dilation. While the pulmonary artery and pulmonary veins are dilating, the umbilical artery and umbilical vein are severed at the cutting of the umbilical cord, or the funiculus umbilicalis. This combination results in a reversal of pressure differences between the atria, and the septum primum is permanently forced against the septum secundum. This holds true even during atrial diastole, when the pressure is significantly less than atrial systole.

Clinical significance

An ostium secundum that persists at large size can be a source of atrial septal defects. Foramen secundum atrial septal defects are the most common atrial septal defects. This defect can arise as a result of defects of the septum primium and the septum secundum. For the septum primum, the problem can arise as a result of excess resorption of the septum during the process of apoptosis in order to form the foramen secundum. For the septum secundum, its inadequate growth can cause atrial septal defect since it is supposed to grow and eventually overlap the foramen secundum so as to form the oval foramen.

Treatment of ostium secundum atrial septal defects

Newborns with small foramen secundum atrial septal defects have been shown to spontaneously correct by the third or fourth year of life. Therefore, medical supervision is generally accepted as a preventive measure for those diagnosed in infancy, rather than surgical intervention or use of other medical devices.

If surgery is required, it is performed using minimally invasive techniques via robotic surgery that often requires only a few days of hospital stay. Surgical intervention should result in full closure of the foramen secundum, and mortality rates are similar to those for general anesthesia. The repair can be made by suturing the atrial septum or, if the foramen secundum is large in size, a patch can be made from the patient's pericardium to fully separate each atrium. The synthetic material Dacron may also be used to create a repair patch.

Inserting a catheter has proven to be a safe and successful method for closing the foramen secundum in children. This method avoids the symptoms that accompany most ostium secundum atrial septal defects. The catheter is inserted into the femoral vein in the leg and moved into place in the atrial septum. Transesophageal echocardiography is accepted as the method to monitor this procedure which, when performed correctly, has shorter recovery times than surgical intervention. Complications of catheter insertion often include nausea and vomiting, blood vessel obstruction, pain, and hemorrhage. The most common problem with this preventive measure is the incomplete closing of the foramen secundum.

There is at present no drug therapy for foramen secundum atrial septal defects, although infective endocarditis is a postoperative concern. To prevent this condition, a prophylactic is used for six months after the operation.

Prognosis

Many patients with a foramen secundum that persists into adulthood will remain asymptomatic throughout their lives. A mortality rate of less than one tenth of one percent is expected if the operation is performed correctly. Some argue that if the operation is performed before eight years of age, few cardiac abnormalities such as cardiac dysrhythmia are expected later in life. Others argue that the operation can take place as late as age 24, to limit cardiac complications in middle age or later. Some sources have argued that mitral regurgitation and mitral valve prolapse are common after age 40, if the ostium secundum is not repaired by age 24. Operative closure of atrial septal defects after age 40, and the ability to diminish symptoms at all remains controversial. Some data does suggest that even after that age, symptoms can be alleviated via surgical intervention, including prevention of Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia and other associated cardiac abnormalities.