Recently, I was asked by a friend of a patient if it was a good idea to block the atrial septal defect in a 12-year-old child with atrial septal defect and an atrial defect of 13 mm measured by ultrasound, as well as pulmonary hypertension. After reviewing the medical records of this child, the pulmonary vascular resistance is already significantly elevated, and it is estimated that the pulmonary hypertension is not related to the atrial defect, so it is not recommended to block it. Xu Xiqi, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Fu Wai Hospital, Beijing
We would like to remind parents that they should consult a pulmonary vascular specialist before deciding whether or not to block. If blocking is not indicated, the child may be fine at the time, but as the pressure in the pulmonary artery rises, it will be very difficult to treat.