If the patient exhibits no symptoms, the physician will first detect ASD when he or she finds a heart murmur during a routine examination. Echocardiography, electrocardiography and chest x-rays will then be used as a follow-up to find the cause of the murmur. If necessary, the more invasive cardiac catheterization procedure will be performed, but usually echocardiography can provide the same information.
If treatment is required, it might be performed during the cardiac catheterization procedure. A device can be inserted through a large vein and it adheres to the hole, closing it. If that is not possible, open-heart surgery may be necessary.
