What is the expected finding in an echocardiogram of a patient with atrial septal defect?

In an echocardiogram of a patient with atrial septal defect (ASD), right atrial enlargement is an expected finding. This occurs because the defect allows blood to flow from the left atrium to the right atrium, increasing the volume of blood in the right atrium. This volume overload leads to the dilation of the right atrial chamber over time.

As the right atrium accommodates more blood than normal, the septal defect causes not only enlargement of the right atrium but also potential changes in the right ventricle and pulmonary circulation due to increased blood flow. Therefore, observing an enlarged right atrium on echocardiography is a key diagnostic feature that correlates with the hemodynamic consequences of ASD.

In contrast, findings such as left ventricle hypertrophy, interventricular septal defect, and a rapid heart rate are not typical characteristics associated with ASD. Left ventricular hypertrophy is more commonly seen in conditions with increased left ventricular workload or pressure overload. An interventricular septal defect is a different anomaly entirely, whereas a rapid heart rate may not be a direct consequence of the atrial septal defect itself but rather can be due to many other factors, including compensatory mechanisms.