Abstract
The aim of this analysis was to study the postnatal short-term outcome of cases with
aneurysmal septum primum (ASP) and non-restrictive foramen ovale in otherwise structurally
normal hearts. This is a retrospective review of fetuses with ASP referred between
2016 and 2018 to the University Hospital of Cerrahpasa, Department of Fetal Cardiology
for cardiac scanning. Prenatal and postnatal clinical features and outcomes for each
case were ascertained from the departmental database and from individual clinical
hospital records. We presented twenty-four cases which also had postnatal echocardiographic
examination in our hospital. At the time of diagnosis of ASP, the mean maternal age
was 31.1 ± 5.7 years, the mean gestational age was 28.9 ± 5.9 weeks, the mean birth
week was 37.4 ± 3.1 weeks, and the mean birth weight was 2940.8 ± 736.6 g. The postnatal
first 3 months prevalences of atrial septal aneurysm, patent foramen ovale and, secundum
atrial septal defect (ASD) were 12.5%, 12.5%, 20.8% among fetuses with ASP, respectively.
ASP may persist after birth and may increase the frequency of secundum ASD. These
data suggest that fetuses with ASP should be followed by a pediatric cardiologist
in postnatal life.
Keywords
Aneurysmal septum primum - Atrial septal aneurysm - Fetal echocardiography - Foramen
ovale - Postnatal outcome
